Turkey's Erdoğan says he won't meet with Pence and Pompeo

[riversedge]

Source: axios



Jonathan Swan, Rashaan Ayesh 1 hour ago


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Sky News Wednesday that he will not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is currently leading a delegation with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Turkey to discuss a ceasefire in northern Syria.

Why it matters: Erdoğan, who told the outlet that he will only meet with President Trump, is facing increasing international pressure over his decision to launch an offensive strike against U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.

Our thought bubble: While Erdoğan may be facing international pressure, the offensive and his defiance of the U.S. is clearly playing well domestically right now.

Trump administration officials tell Axios they are banking that his position will change if and when Turkey’s economy starts suffering the way it did last time Trump hit the country with sanctions to secure the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Behind the scenes: Trump has gloated to advisers that he broke Erdoğan during the Brunson negotiations — that he hit Turkey "so hard" with sanctions and drove its economy down........................................

Read more: https://www.axios.com/erdogan-wont-meet-pence-pompeo-turkey-syria-8c05e0bc-d309-46b9-912c-b7eabf512167.html

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I would be VERY surprised if Trump got off his TV Couch to travel to Turkey. IMHO

Link to tweet

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Link to tweet

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[Pachamama]

1. Oh Snap....

So what will Trump do now?

I still want to know what was discussed in the phone call last week with Erdogan that made Trump make a decision to pull US Troops and allow a slaughter of Kurds and Russians walking through our military base posts that are no abandoned.

And that now Erdogan disses the US....

[RKP5637]

3. tRump, is such a damn fool! So F'en embarrassing to see this ass as US president! n/t

[Ramsey Barner]

2. Time to disarm the US nukes in Turkey

and replace them with inert dummies.

Leaving disarmed nukes would leave the radioactive material available for dirty bombs. Visibly removing them would cause a[nother] major incident with Turkey. Call it regularly scheduled maintenance and systems upgrades, and get the real nukes out of there.

[Perseus]

4. I understand that he also said he was tired of trump's tweets that were full on inconsistencies

and false information.

Translated: I already got what I wanted from the idiot, I don't need to talk to anyone else, unless I need to get something else from the idiot. If I do need something else I will only meet with the idiot. I will tell him what a great leader he is and then I will get what I want.

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Changed plans again - Erdogan now will be meeting with Pence:

Link to tweet

MSNBC ✔ @MSNBC

President Erdogan says he will refuse to meet with VP Pence, who is due to travel to Turkey to argue for a ceasefire in the ongoing Syria conflict. https://on.msnbc.com/2qjl37E

msnbc.com

MSNBC ✔@MSNBC

Turkish communications director says that President Erdogan does plan to meet with VP Pence on Thursday. Pence is due to travel to Turkey on Wednesday. https://on.msnbc.com/2OTYQqS

Turkish president now will meet with VP Pence
Reversing an earlier position, Turkish President Erdogan has now said he will meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is due to travel to Turkey to argue for a ceasefire in the ongoing Syria...

9:15 AM - Oct 16, 2019

[hlthe2b]

6. He doesn't speak to the "help."

[lagomorph777]

7. Trump has made America a laughingstock. We have lost all respect in the world.

I'm sure Putin will send him a big bonus check for this.

[keithbvadu2]

8. Whether they meet or not

[Coventina]

9. Let's not forget Turkey continues to illegally occupy Cyprus. n/t