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Syria, Russian Missiles on Agenda for Trump-Erdogan Talks

VOA News

   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House for talks
   Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, with the two leaders likely
   to discuss Turkey's incursion in northern Syria and its purchase of a
   Russian air defense system.

   The agenda for the day released by the White House also includes an
   afternoon joint news conference.

   The United States and other NATO allies have expressed concern about
   Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, saying they do
   not fit with the alliances defense systems and pose a threat to the
   U.S. F-35 fighter jet program.

   In response, the United States has suspended Turkey's involvement with
   the F-35.

   A senior U.S. official, who spoke to reporters ahead of Erdogan's
   visit, said the issue of the missile system is one that Trump "is
   trying to address head-on" in the talks with Turkey.

   "As he's outlined publicly, there's tremendous upside in this bilateral
   relationship in economic terms, a key part of which is the F-35 and
   Turkey's role and potential role in the F-35 program. But to get there,
   we, as allies, need to resolve this issue of the S-400," the official
   said.

   Erdogan spokesman Fahrettin Altun said on Twitter that Turkey has been
   clear about its reasoning for purchasing the Russian missiles.

   "Turkey's need for a missile defense system is urgent. The U.S. must
   recognize this to prevent the issue from becoming a thorn in our
   relations. Turkey's participation in the F-35 program is crucial for
   our defense partnership," Altun wrote.

   A senior U.S. official said another of Trump's priorities would be the
   situation in Syria where the United States is chiefly concerned about a
   potential resurgence of the Islamic State group as well as preventing
   "humanitarian atrocities against religious and ethnic minorities."

   Trump also planned to discuss human rights issues within Turkey as
   well.