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Trump, Erdogan hail bilateral relations after White House meeting

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on May 16, 2017. (Photos by AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump have hailed the strong relations between their countries following a meeting in Washington.

"We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better," said Trump in a joint press conference held after the meeting in the White House on Tuesday.

"The relationship that we have together will be unbeatable," Trump added.

In his turn, Erdogan hailed the two country’s “outstanding relations,” while stressing that his US visit would "mark a historical turn of tide."

Although in reference to Washington’s arming of Kurdish militants in Syria, Erdogan stressed that, "There is no place for the terrorist organizations in the future of our region." 

On May 9, Trump authorized the arming of Kurdish forces in Syria despite fierce opposition from Turkey. The US claims that arming the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is to “ensure a clear victory" in operations aimed at the liberation of Raqqah from the Daesh terrorist group.

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The SDF is led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) which Ankara views as a terrorist organization over its alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

This file photo taken on April 28, 2017 shows US forces, accompanied by Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters, driving their armored vehicles near the northern Syrian village of Darbasiyah, on the border with Turkey on April 28, 2017.  

Erdogan went on to stress that activities carried out by the YPG in the region "will never be accepted" by Turkey.

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Last Wednesday, Erdogan called on the US immediately overturn its decision to arm Kurdish militants.

"I hope very much that this mistake will be reversed immediately," he said.

Different foreign-backed terrorist groups have been wreaking havoc in Syria since 2011.

Over the past few months, Syrian forces have made sweeping gains against Takfiri elements who have lately increased their acts of violence across the country following a series of defeats on the ground.


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