Erdogan vows to defy US 'threats' over detained pastor

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Saturday to defy US "threats" over a detained pastor, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a doubling of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, showing no signs of concessions in a bitter row that has caused the Turkish lira almost to crash.

US 'wrong' to threaten Turkey

The two governments have been at odds over a wide range of topics, from diverging interests in Syria, to Turkey’s ambition to buy Russian defense systems and the case of evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson, who is on trial in Turkey on terrorism charges, according to Reuters.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talks to media in the Black Sea city of Ordu, August 11, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The new US tariffs on its NATO ally have hit the Turkish currency hard. The embattled lira fell 16 percent against the dollar on Friday to an all-time low.

Erdogan on Saturday said US was wrong "to try to bring Turkey in line for a pastor" when he told a crowd of supporters in the Turkish town of Unye on the Black Sea coast.

"Shame on you, shame on you," in comments towards the US, the president said "You are exchanging your strategic partner in NATO for a priest."

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talk at the start of the NATO summit in Brussels, July 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

Turkey-US relationship 'in jeopardy'

In the New York Times, Erdogan warned Washington not to risk relations with Ankara, saying otherwise his country would look for "new friends and allies."

Unless the US starts respecting Turkey’s sovereignty and proves that it understands the dangers that our nation faces, our partnership could be in jeopardy, Erdogan wrote.

"Before it is too late, Washington must give up the misguided notion that our relationship can be asymmetrical and come to terms with the fact that Turkey has alternatives," he opined, calling that Turkey will take necessary steps to protect national interests.

Screenshot of Trump's tweet

'Not good at this time'

In a tweet, Trump announced the doubling of the tariffs in new punitive actions against Turkey, saying, "Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!"

Erdogan downplayed the currency crisis in a speech on Friday, advising Turks not to be worried over exchange rate fluctuations.

Erdogan repeated a call to Turks to sell dollars and euros to support the lira to win what he described as a "war of independence," Reuters reported on Saturday.

US pastor Andrew Brunson reacts as he arrives at his home after being released from prison in Izmir, Turkey, July 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

Delicate relations soured

The arrest and detention of US pastor Brunson since October 2016 has soured already deeply delicate relations with Washington.

In the New York Times article, Erdogan said, "Attempting to force my government to intervene in the judicial process is not in line with our Constitution or our shared democratic values."

Trump has described Brunson's detention as a "total disgrace" and urged Erdogan to free him "immediately."

(Cover: File photo of Erdogan /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters