President Joe Biden arrived at La Nuvola Sunday morning for his second day at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome, which will start with a face-to-face meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Biden stated, “We’re planning on having a good conversation,” as he and the Turkish leader posed together for a photo.
Biden was asked whether the administration would sell F-16s in Turkey, something that American lawmakers have warned him against. The president was also asked whether he would bring up human right issues at the meeting, and if Turkey had become too friendly with the Russians.
He ignored those queries and said ‘thank you’ to reporters.
Erdogan had threatened to expel 10 foreign ambassadors including those from the U.S. but he backed down after calling them “persona non grata” for a statement they made in support Osman Kavala (prisoner for philanthropist and philanthropist).
President Joe Biden (right) and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan (left) pose for a photo ahead of their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome Sunday morning
According to a senior official, ‘I’m not sure that we would have had the meeting had he gone ahead and expelled’. He said this to reporters in Rome on Saturday night. ‘Certainly, the president will indicate to us that we must find a way forward to avoid crises like this one.
Official added that ‘precipitous actions are not going to be beneficial the U.S.–Turkey partnership, alliance,’
Kavala, who has been in prison since 2017, was accused of conspiring to spy on the Turkish government and organize protests in 2013. He also helped plan a coup attempt in 2016, which resulted in 250 deaths.
Kavala denied the charges
Upon arrival at La Nuvola, ‘the cloud,’ in Rome on Saturday, where G20 leaders participated in their first in-person meeting in two years, Biden warmly greeted Erdogan, before the principles posed for their so-called ‘family picture.’
President Joe Biden (left) shakes the hand of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (right) as the G20 leaders meet for the first time in-person in two years. Standing in the middle is Democratic Republic of Congo’s President and African Union Chair Felix Tshisekedi
Pictured as they arrive at the G20 in Rome on Saturday, President Joe Biden (right), Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdan (left).
Biden was originally set to meet Erdogan at COP26 (the United Nations climate summit held in Glasgow, Scotland). He will then travel next.
The sale of F-16s is expected to be a major topic at the meeting. However, regional security issues regarding Syria and Libya are also expected to be raised.
Biden has been urged by lawmakers not to sell F-16s Turkey, and threatened to stop exports of the planes if Turkey purchases a Russian missile defense system.
Reuters reported earlier in the month that Turkey was interested in purchasing 40 F-16s and 80 modernization kit for their Lockheed Martin-made fighter planes.