Erdogan blames Blinken for his approach to situation in Israel Not as Secretary of State, but proceeding from his nationality

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of approaching Israel proceeding from his nationality rather than his position.

“The US Secretary of State is holding talks with my foreign minister and says that he approaches Israel not as a Secretary of State, but as a representative of Jewish nationality. What kind of politician is this, what is this approach about? What will you answer if they tell you that they approach the region as Muslims? Your interlocutors should be approached not on the basis of religion, but on humanity,” TASS quotes Erdogan as saying in Istanbul at the closing ceremony of the Türkiye-Africa business forum.

He also sharply criticized the United States for shooting down a Turkish drone in Syria in early October, calling such actions a violation of the spirit of strategic partnership.

“Are we and the United States not members of NATO? The US shot down our drone, how can this be done? There is a security issue between us; such actions go against the spirit of strategic partnership,” the Turkish leader noted.