Biden, Erodgan meeting unlikely to improve strained US-Turkey relations

The first face-to-face meeting between US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is unlikely to result in any significant breakthrough in the strained relationship between the two allies, according to reports. 

The two leaders, who meet in Brussels on Monday for the first time since Biden took office, differ on a number of key strategic issues, such as Turkey’s purchase of Russian defence systems, the conflict in Syria and Turkey’s human rights record. 

No major policy agreements between the two leaders are expected to result from the meeting, according to Reuters. 

“They will talk about political and economic issues that..have been challenging in our relationship, including human rights-related issues,” said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to reporters on Sunday. 

Despite Turkey’s importance in Afghanistan as the US withdraws troops and Erodgan's need for international support for Turkey's Covid-19 recovery, the relationship between Biden and Erodgan has been distanced and strained recently. 

The biggest contention between the countries is Erdogan’s refusal to cancel a purchase of the Russian S-400 defense system.

The US has imposed sanctions on Turkey as a result, making it the only NATO ally to be subjected to this.

The last time Biden spoke to Erodgan was to inform him that the US was recognizing the 1915 massacres against Armenians as a genocide.

This was met with relatively muted condemnation in Turkey.