Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the release of Andrew Brunson, one source of growing disputes between the country and the United States.
The United States gave Turkey a deadline until last Wednesday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, to release an American pastor being tried by a Turkish court.
Evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson had been in jail for almost 20 months when a court in July ordered him to be moved to house arrest. Since then, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have called for his release, while Ankara says the decision is up to the courts.
Speaking to supporters in the Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon, Erdogan revealed details of negotiations held last week between the two countries, saying Washington had threatened sanctions if Turkey refused to release the pastor.
“If we did not release him, they said they would sanction us,” Erdogan said. “What happened? Immediately, we have imposed the same sanctions on their ministers.”
In response, Washington sanctioned two Turkish ministers, and on Friday, Trump announced the United States was doubling tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey, saying relations with Ankara were “not good at this time.”
