Tsavousoglu in Blinken: US ‘must balance its Greek-Turkish policy’

LAST UPDATE 22:19

The issue of Sweden and Finland joining NATO, export restrictions, F-16s, Afghanistan and of course the PKK and the Syrian Kurds, were the focus of discussions between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu and the United States. Anthony Blinken. But the menu also had … Greece, as statements were made only by the Turkish Foreign Minister and only to the Turkish media.

According to Tsavousoglu, he told his American counterpart that the United States “must balance its policy between Greece and Turkey.”

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that the talks between the USA and Turkey on the sale of the F-16s were positive and that the work would continue.

Cavusoglu said Blinken said Finland and Sweden would “send the necessary messages to address Turkey’s security concerns” over NATO membership.

At the end of their meeting, the Turkish Foreign Minister stated that the goal is to achieve bilateral trade of 100 billion dollars, “but the restrictions on some products must be lifted,” he said, adding that despite the pandemic last year, the volume of bilateral trade amounted to $ 28 billion.

“We brought the F-16s to our agenda. We discussed the situation in Ukraine, the problems in Armenia, Syria and other areas,” Tsavousoglu said.

He also commented that “US support for the YPG and the PKK should end.”

Statements before the meeting

Turkey has “legitimate security concerns,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoλουlu said briefly from New York, where he traveled to meet with US counterpart Anthony Blinken.

To make it more convincing as to why Turkey is once again bargaining on its own account within the NATO alliance, the Turkish Foreign Minister stressed that while he understands the concerns of Finland and Sweden, they should also take into account Ankara is concerned that the two countries’ application for membership should be approved.

“Turkey supports NATO’s open door policy even before this war starts. We also have legitimate concerns about the two countries’ possible accession to NATO. They support terrorist organizations. There are also restrictions on the export of defense products. We have expressed our concerns. “I’m talking to two colleagues in Berlin. We understand security concerns, but Turkey ‘s security concerns must also be addressed.”

Shortly before the meeting, Tsavousoglu called for better relations with the United States, commenting on “the fact that Russia’s attack on Ukraine showed that Turkey and the United States should work better together as allies and friends.”

Stating that the talks will focus on bilateral talks and discuss the settlement of disputes with the US through dialogue and diplomacy, Tsavousoglu said Turkey aims to increase the volume of trade with the US to $ 100 billion.

Petros Kranias