LONDON: A recently resurfaced video of US presidential hopeful Joe Biden advocating for Erdogan’s removal has caused uproar in Turkey.
In a December meeting with US journalists, the Democratic nominee called Erdogan an “autocrat,” suggested the US “embolden” his opponents, and said: “What I think we should be doing is taking a very different approach to him now, making it clear that we support opposition leadership.”
He added that Erdogan “has to pay a price” for Turkey’s treatment of their Kurdish population.
Biden’s wide ranging comments also called attention to Turkey’s hostile regional stance, “particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean in relating to oil” — an issue that has now come to the fore as Turkey pushes forward with energy surveying despite being widely rebuked by allies and adversaries alike.
Biden’s comments, ignored at the time, have now caused uproar across the political spectrum in Turkey.
Erdogan’s head spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin, branded Biden’s comments “pure arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy.”
“The days of ordering Turkey around are over. But if you still think you can try, be our guest,” he said.
He concluded with an apparent warning for Biden: “You will pay the price.”
The analysis of Turkey by @JoeBiden is based on pure ignorance, arrogance and hypocrisy.
The days of ordering Turkey around are over.
But if you still think you can try, be our guest.
You will pay the price.
— Ibrahim Kalin (@ikalin1) August 16, 2020
In a rare moment of unity, Turkey’s opposition parties also condemned the former vice-president’s comments.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican Peoples’ Party, told Turkish reporters that his party strives for Turkey's independence and sovereignty and does not accept even a shadow of imperial power.
US-Turkey relations have turned increasingly sour in recent years, with Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria and its purchase of Russian missile defence systems both proving to be contentious issues between the NATO allies.
Turkey’s recent provocations against US-ally Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean have also been divisive, and have further alienated Turkey from the US and European powers such as France.
The US presidential election is due to take place on Nov. 3, and most polls predict that Biden will win the election.
Turkey’s next nationwide elections will take place in 2023.
