ANKARA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2018) The crisis in Turkish-American relations can easily be left behind, but not with the current approach of the US administration, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday.
"We do not want any problems with Washington, they can be easily settled, but not with the current US approach. They do not understand who their real friend is," Cavusoglu told reporters.
US-Turkish bilateral relations have deteriorated over US pastor Andrew Brunson's detention in Turkey in 2016. Brunson, who was arrested on suspicion of ties to the Gulen movement, which is accused of orchestrating the 2016 failed military coup in Turkey, was released from prison in late July and placed under house arrest.
In early August, Washington froze the assets of two Turkish ministers who allegedly contributed to human rights abuses in the country. On Friday, US President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, up to 50 and 20 percent, respectively, which resulted in the Turkish lira fall to a new historical low. Ankara said it would not tolerate US policies and imposed retaliatory import duties on 22 US goods.
However, the Turkish Currency rebounded on Wednesday and Thursday by about 19 percent on reports that Qatar intended to invest $15 billion in Turkish economy.
