Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday waded into the war of words between the US and Russian presidents, chastising Joe Biden for calling Vladimir Putin a “killer.”
“Mr Biden’s comment about Putin does not suit a head of state,” the Turkish president told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, lauding Putin for giving a “smart” and “classy response”.
In an interview with ABC News, Biden was asked if he thought Putin was “a killer”.
“I do,” Biden replied, immediately sparking the biggest crisis between Russia and the United States in years.
File photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during a joint press conference following their talks in the Black sea resort of Sochi on October 22, 2019. Sergei CHIRIKOV / POOL / AFP
Putin on Thursday mocked the US leader, saying a Russian phrase that translates roughly as “it takes one to know one”, and wishing Biden, 78, good health.
“I’m saying this without irony, not as a joke,” Putin, 68, said.
Erdogan’s comments reflect a new spell of tensions that have entered Turkey’s relations with Washington since Biden replaced Donald Trump in the White House in January.
Erdogan is still waiting for a phone call from Biden, whose administration has highlighted Turkey’s deteriorating record on human rights.
Turkish-US relations are also hampered by Ankara’s purchase of advanced S-400 air defence systems from Moscow, which Washington says threaten NATO defences.
Biden is also remembered in Ankara for calling Erdogan an “autocrat” in an interview in late 2019.
Despite their differences on Syria, Erdogan has called Putin a “friend and a strategic partner.”
AFP
INSECURITY: Nigeria to receive 6 Super Tucanos in July
The Presidency says six of the 12 super Tucano fighter aircraft earlier ordered by the Federal Government will arrive in the country by July 2021.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu announced on his Twitter handle today says six of the twelve super Tucanos are on track to arrive in mid-July 2021 while the remaining six will arrive shortly after that.
According to him, “the super Tucano came off the production line in Jacksonville Florida, and are now being equipped and flight tested.
“Nigerian pilots and maintenance personnel are training on these planes. Currently, the construction is ongoing, which will house the aircraft.
“The air-ground-integration school is the training hub on targeting and minimization of civilian casualties.”
The Federal government had in February 2018 placed an order for 12 super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $496million.
