Meeting In Rome: President Biden Alludes To S-400 Missiles, President Erdogan Criticizes Syria's YPG

President Joe Biden with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan his request for F-16 fighter jets must go through a process in the United States. Meanwhile, President Erdogan said his colleagues were 'positive' on the sale of the jet.

Relations between Ankara and Washington, two NATO allies, have been strained over a number of issues in recent years, ranging from policy differences in Syria to human rights to Russia's purchase of the S-400 missile system, which has led to U.S. sanctions on Turkey.

President Biden and President Erdogan meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, Italy. In addition to the fighter jet issue, President Biden has also raised human rights issues, a senior US administration official told reporters.

"President Biden reiterated our defense partnership and Turkey's importance as a NATO ally. But noted US concerns over Turkey's ownership of the Russian S-400 missile system," the White House said in a statement following the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Presidency said the two leaders had agreed to establish a joint mechanism to strengthen ties. A senior Turkish official said the talks were held in a "very positive atmosphere".

Speaking to reporters in Rome, President Erdogan said he reiterated his opposition to US support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG, Washington's ally in fighting ISIS in Syria but considered terrorists by Ankara.

"Undoubtedly, I conveyed to him (President Biden) our sadness with the support this terrorist organization in Syria received from the United States," President Erdogan said.

"I also told him that this matter is a step that can damage our solidarity," he continued.

Ankara had previously ordered more than 100 F-35 jets, but Washington removed Turkey from the program after purchasing the S-400. Turkey has called the move unfair and demanded reimbursement for the $1.4 billion payment it had paid.

President Erdogan said the payments should be used to finance some of Turkey's requests to buy 40 F-16s and nearly 80 modernization equipment, but Washington said it had not made a financing offer to Ankara.

In addition, President Erdogan said he sought President Joe Biden's support to get US lawmakers to support the sale.

"While I see Mr. Biden's positive approach on this issue, another aspect of this issue is the House of Representatives and the Senate," he said.

On Saturday, a different US administration official said President Biden would warn President Erdogan against a "precipitous" move, with a crisis to be avoided after Turkey's leader last week threatened to expel 10 foreign envoys, including the US envoy, for seeking Kavala's release, despite later this threat was lifted.