U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out agreeing to any demands from Turkey to gain the release of a detained American pastor Andrew Brunson and said he was not concerned that his tough stance could end up hurting European and emerging market economies.
Trump said he thought he had a deal with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he helped persuade Israel to free a detained Turkish citizen. He had thought Erdogan would then release pastor, who denies Turkey’s allegations that he was involved in a plot against Erdogan two years ago.
"I think it’s very sad what Turkey is doing. I think they’re making a terrible mistake. There will be no concessions," he said in an Oval Office interview with Reuters.
Turkey has demanded that the United States hand over Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric in the United States suspected in the coup plot against Erdogan, but the United States has balked at this.
"I’m not concerned at all. I’m not concerned. This is the proper thing to do," Trump stressed, when asked about the potential damage to other economies.
Trump has imposed tariffs on imports of Turkish steel and aluminum in response to Erdogan’s refusal to free Brunson, raising concerns of economic damage in Europe and in emerging market economies.
