CNN: It was a “tense” first call between Biden and Erdogan
US President Joe Biden told his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Friday, that he intends to recognize the 1915 Armenian genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, according to a person familiar with the conversation.
Readings from the White House and the Turkish presidency did not mention the issue, as the person on the call described it as “tense”.
CNN previously reported that Biden was preparing to recognize the century-long atrocities against Armenians as genocide, and to fulfill his campaign promise.
Biden’s predecessors in the White House had abstained from using the word, fearful of damaging ties with a major regional ally.
As vice president, Biden has dealt frequently with Erdogan and made four trips to Turkey, including in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt.
But he has since presented an unflattering view of the Turkish leader.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with him,” Biden told the New York Times editorial board in 2020.
He is tyrannical.
He is the President of Turkey and much more.
What I think we should do is take a completely different approach to it now, which shows that we support the leadership of the opposition”.
Biden spoke by phone with Erdogan on Friday, his first conversation with the Turkish leader since taking office.
The long period without contact has been interpreted as an indication that Biden places less importance on the United States’ relationship with Turkey in the future.
In a reading of the call, the White House said Biden had “conveyed his interest in a constructive bilateral relationship with expanded areas of cooperation and effective conflict management”.
