Erdoğan urges Biden to stop US support to Israel

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, that the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza as a result of indiscriminate Israeli attacks must be stopped and recalled that it was the United States' historic responsibility to achieve a lasting ceasefire in the region.

Erdoğan and Biden spoke by phone late on Dec. 14 upon the request of the latter. The call addressed Israel’s attacks on Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, the Türkiye-U.S. bilateral relations and Sweden’s NATO membership process as well as global and regional issues, according to a statement by the Communications Directorate.

It was the first exchange between Erdoğan and Biden after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7.

Erdoğan stated that the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza must be stopped immediately, that the withdrawal of the unconditional support the U.S. provides to Israel may ensure a ceasefire quickly.

Recalling that this demand is being voiced more loudly in recent days both by the international community and the U.S. public opinion Erdoğan stressed that it is the "historical responsibility of the U.S. to achieve a lasting ceasefire in the region without delay."

"I told Biden that, as the United States, you should intervene first," Erdoğan addressed reporters after a Friday prayer on Dec. 15, highlighted civilian deaths and attacks on places of worship in Gaza. The president said he assured Biden that Türkiye is "doing its best and will continue its efforts to address this crime against humanity."

Erdoğan also noted that the deepening and prolongation of Israel’s attacks may have negative regional and global consequences. He also underlined that the most reasonable and permanent solution is to implement the guarantor mechanism put forward by Türkiye, keep the promises made and to establish an independent, sovereign and territorially-integrated State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.

For his part, Biden reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself. The leaders also discussed efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza and protect civilians and the need for a political horizon for the Palestinian people.

Erdoğan and Biden also discussed Türkiye’s request for buying 40 new F-16 jetfighters from the U.S. and Sweden’s accession to NATO.

According to a readout from the White House, they discussed the importance of strengthening the military alliance, including the importance of welcoming Sweden as an ally as soon as possible and further enhancing Türkiye’s NATO interoperability.

Erdoğan, meanwhile, informed reporters that he told Biden that the Turkish parliament set to vote on Sweden's bid soon maintains an "honest approach." However, he added a condition, stating, "As long as Sweden takes control of its approaches to terrorism."

Ankara has long been demanding from Sweden to take stricter measures against the activities of the terror groups – namely the PKK and the group behind the 2016 failed coup, the FETÖ. Although Sweden has amended its anti-terror legislation since applying for NATO membership, Türkiye argues PKK supporters can still freely organize demonstrations, recruit and procure financial resources within the country.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the lead up to the July 2024 NATO summit in Washington. Biden expressed support for recent constructive steps in the relationship between Greece and Türkiye.

At a press briefing in Washington, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby briefly said that the U.S. administration supports Türkiye’s modernization program for its F-16 fleets.

Türkiye demanded to buy the jetfighters from the U.S. in late 2021 after it was expelled from the F-35 program due its deployment of S-400 air defense systems from Russia. Washington has linked the sale to Türkiye’s approval of Sweden’s accession protocols to NATO.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, on a question on the same issue, said “We continue to make clear to the Turkish government that we think Sweden’s NATO accession should be approved as soon as possible. It’s long overdue. Sweden is ready to take its place in NATO, and we will continue to engage in conversations with the Turkish government to push them to approve that accession as soon as possible.”