US president Donald Trump spoke by telephone on Saturday with Turkish
president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed working more closely with
its NATO ally to improve regional security, the White House said.
"President Trump emphasised the common commitment of the United
States and Turkey to work together to increase regional stability," a
White House statement said.
The phone call came amid a backdrop of deteriorating relations
between Washington and Ankara, NATO allies whose relations have soured
over the US decision to arm Kurds in Syria to fight ISIL. Turkey regards
the Kurdish militias as "terrorists".
Turkey has also repeatedly demanded, without success, that the US
extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher who lives in Pennsylvania
and is accused by Ankara of being behind a failed coup against Mr
Erdogan in July 2016.
US authorities have also charged several Turks with violating
financial sanctions against Iran, including former economy minister
Zafer Caglayan.
Mr Erdogan denounced the charges as a politically-motivated decision against Turkey.
But he has said that, if the opportunity arises, he will meet with Mr
Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, which begins on
September 19 in New York.
