Obama Emphasizes Turkey's Security in Meeting with Erdogan

Barack Obama met with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit in Washington and emphasized the "commitment of the United States to maintaining Turkey's security." The two sides also discussed "joint battles" against the "Islamic State." According to the White House, the U.S. President expressed condolences to the Turkish President for the victims of the recent explosion in Diyarbakir and reiterated the United States' commitment to Turkey's security and joint efforts against terrorism. On Thursday, following a car bomb explosion in Diyarbakir, at least seven police officers were killed and 20 others were injured. The Turkish news agency "Dogan" reported that the explosion targeted a minibus carrying police officers. The U.S. and Turkish Presidents also discussed "advancing joint efforts to combat ISIS and eliminate this group." Previously, Ben Rhodes, the U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor, had stated that the two sides were expected to meet on the sidelines of the Thursday evening event (April 1) at the White House. Reports indicated that issues such as concerns over freedom of expression in Turkey or disagreements over support for Kurdish groups in Syria against the "Islamic State" had prevented a formal meeting and negotiation between the U.S. and Turkish Presidents. Kurdish groups in Syria receive support from the U.S., which considers Kurdish militants among the most important opposition groups to "ISIS," while Turkey views them as a branch of the PKK and "terrorist." In recent months, attacks on opposition newspapers, the arrest and imprisonment of critical journalists in Turkey have also drawn criticism against Ankara. The movement of "Islamic State" forces across Turkey's borders or the dispatch of hundreds of thousands of refugees towards Europe has also cast a shadow over Erdogan's government relations with the West. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a guest at the nuclear security summit in Washington. According to "Foreign Policy," he has met with prominent theorists such as Vali Nasr, head of the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies, Joe Hellman, head of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, or Michael Singh from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy to reduce pressures. Meanwhile, protests have also taken place during his presence in Washington. The Associated Press reports that Erdogan's opponents gathered and protested during his speech at the Brookings Institution. Apparently, Erdogan's security forces attempted to remove a critical journalist from the venue. Security forces at the Brookings Institution also asked Erdogan's people to leave the room. The Turkish embassy in Washington has not yet reacted to these events. The Turkish President had met with John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, and Joe Biden, Barack Obama's Vice President, a day earlier. In this context, John Kerry stated that the U.S. has provided $5 billion to Turkey to address the refugee crisis. The U.S. is evacuating the families of its diplomats and military personnel from southern Turkey. Kerry and Erdogan discussed Syria and ISIS.