Trump praises Erdogan as loyal friend at Sharm el-Sheikh summit

At the Middle East Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, US President Donald Trump spoke about his personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing him as a strong and dependable leader, Caliber.Az reports.

Reflecting on his rapport with the Turkish leader, Trump said he has always admired “tough people” over “soft, easy ones,” joking that it might be “a personality problem.”

“I don’t know what it is. I like the tough people better than I like the soft, easy ones. I don’t know what the hell that is. That’s a personality problem, I suspect,” Trump said. “But this gentleman from a place called Turkey has one of the most powerful armies, actually in the world. He's much more powerful than he even lets know. If you look at the recent conflicts, he was at the top of them and he was winning them — and he did win them. And he doesn’t want any credit, he doesn’t want anything, he just wants to be left alone. He’s a tough cookie, but he’s been my friend, and every time I’ve ever needed him, he’s been there for me.”

Trump went on to thank Erdogan for his support, adding that the Turkish president’s relations with NATO sometimes prompt calls for Trump’s mediation.

“When NATO has a problem with him, because he is difficult, they call me, they say, ‘Would you do me a favour, could you speak to Erdogan?’ And I do, and he never fails us. He’s amazing,” Trump said. “So I just want to thank you for the friendship. That’s good, thank you very much.”

By Tamilla Hasanova