In a surprising turn of events, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently wished U.S. President Joe Biden good luck in his 2024 re-election campaign. This friendly exchange occurred during their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania. As they engaged in lighthearted conversation, Erdogan expressed his well wishes for Biden’s forthcoming elections and Biden, with a laugh, responded by looking forward to meeting with Erdogan in the next five years.
This exchange marks a significant shift in the sometimes tense relationship between Turkey and the United States. Erdogan’s decision to ease Sweden’s path into NATO has pleased the U.S. and caused tensions with Russia. The Turkish President’s support for Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance has been seen as a diplomatic victory for Biden, who has made international alliances a central theme in his campaign platform.
It is worth noting that former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner in the 2024 presidential race, had displayed admiration for Erdogan and other authoritarian leaders during his time in office, but there were occasional differences in Turkish foreign policy. Nonetheless, Erdogan himself recently won re-election for a five-year term, maintaining his grip on power after two decades.
Trevor Hunnicutt reporting; Howard Goller editing
Credit: The Star : News Feed
