Tom Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey, spoke exclusively to Greek Reporter about the US relationship with Greece and Turkey.
Trump and Erdogan’s “mutual admiration”
Barrack, who is also a senior presidential envoy to Syria, said that the relationship between the US and Turkey is “sensational,” and that “regional stability is in Turkey’s hands.”
He emphasized that President Trump and President Erdogan have a relationship of mutual admiration. Asked about Turkey joining the F-35 program, he pointed to Thursday’s White House meeting between the two heads of State. Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, a move that raised serious security concerns in Washington.
Despite persistent lobbying efforts by Ankara to be readmitted, the US has remained firm: Turkey cannot rejoin the program unless it abandons the Russian system. President Erdogan confirmed that Turkey will negotiate the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets during his upcoming meeting with the US President.
Tom Barrack: Trump loves Greece
Speaking about Greece, he emphasized that the US President loves the country and this is why he “hand-picked” Kimberly Gillfoyle, “the best person possible who has a personal relationship with him,” to be the US ambassador to Greece.
Barrack added that he looks forward to Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle leading the diplomatic mission at the US Embassy in Athens.
Barrack and Guillfoyle “will end this Greek-Turkey thing”
Speaking about his relationship with the recently appointed ambassador to Athens, Barrack noted that this is a great opportunity to end any animosity between Greece and Turkey.
“She is my friend and I adore her, ” he said about Guilfoyle. “Together, we will end this Greek-Turkish thing, and we ‘ll be friends.”
Related: Erdogan-Mitsotakis Meeting in New York Cancelled
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