https://arab.news/z5hng
- Biden suggested the US 鈥榚mbolden鈥� Erdogan鈥檚 rivals, and that Turkey must face consequences for its treatment of the Kurds.
- The Democratic nominee鈥檚 comments have been rebuked by Erdogan鈥檚 government and its rivals.
LONDON: A recently resurfaced video of US presidential hopeful Joe Biden advocating for Erdogan鈥檚 removal has caused uproar in Turkey.
In a December meeting with US journalists, the Democratic nominee called Erdogan an 鈥渁utocrat,鈥� suggested the US 鈥渆mbolden鈥� his opponents, and said: 鈥淲hat I think we should be doing is taking a very different approach to him now, making it clear that we support opposition leadership.鈥�
He added that Erdogan 鈥渉as to pay a price鈥� for Turkey鈥檚 treatment of their Kurdish population.
Biden鈥檚 wide ranging comments also called attention to Turkey鈥檚 hostile regional stance, 鈥減articularly in the Eastern Mediterranean in relating to oil鈥� 鈥� 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鈥檚 comments, ignored at the time, have now caused uproar across the political spectrum in Turkey.
Erdogan鈥檚 head spokesperson, Ibrahim Kalin, branded Biden鈥檚 comments 鈥減ure arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy.鈥�
鈥淭he days of ordering Turkey around are over. But if you still think you can try, be our guest,鈥� he said.
He concluded with an apparent warning for Biden: 鈥淵ou will pay the price.鈥�
In a rare moment of unity, Turkey鈥檚 opposition parties also condemned the former vice-president鈥檚 comments.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the Republican Peoples鈥� 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鈥檚 invasion of northern Syria and its purchase of Russian missile defence systems both proving to be contentious issues between the NATO allies.
Turkey鈥檚 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鈥檚 next nationwide elections will take place in 2023.