Turkey-US Relations: Erdogan made accusations against US intelligence services

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Washington during his speech in Ankara. Erdogan made harsh accusations explicitly calling out US intelligence services – stating they were aiming to cripple Turkey. CGTN's Michal Bardavid has the details.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL Turkey and the U.S. at another downfall. On January 4th a US court found Turkish banker Mehmet Hakan Atilla guilty of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions. Atilla was convicted on five counts of conspiracy and bank fraud.

However Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan claims the trial is baseless and furthermore – an attempt to undermine the Turkish government. In his speech in parliament with his Ak Party members cheering on, Erdogan openly made accusations against US intelligence services.

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN TURKISH PRESIDENT "The obvious court case in the United States is the address of a political coup attempt. In their way, this is an operation to corner Turkey economically, through the terrorist organisation FETO (the network of U.S. based cleric Fethullah Gulen), CIA and FBI. But this won't work either. They will not achieve this either."

Turkish – U.S. relations also recently overcame a diplomatic dispute that had resulted in a mutual visa suspension following Turkey's arrest of an American embassy employee in Turkey over terror charges.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL While relations with the U.S. have been strained, Turkey has been trying to mend ties with EU countries; Erdogan recently met with French President Macron in Paris, and the Turkish foreign minister met with his German counterpart in Germany. Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Istanbul.