Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has decided to delay a scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House, according to a Turkish official and a source familiar with the situation.
Initially slated for May 9, the meeting’s postponement stems from a shift in Erdogan’s agenda. Although not officially confirmed by the White House, a spokesperson mentioned the challenge of aligning schedules but expressed anticipation for Erdogan’s visit at a later, mutually agreeable time.
The Turkish official, requesting anonymity, affirmed that a new meeting date would soon be arranged to accommodate Erdogan’s revised schedule.
However, the specific reason behind the postponement remains unclear, as stated by the anonymous source familiar with the matter.
While the White House never formally announced the visit, a U.S. official previously indicated the proposed May 9 date after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Washington.
This postponement marks a delay in the first bilateral visit to Washington since 2019, when Erdogan met with then-President Donald Trump.
U.S.-Turkey relations have been historically strained by disagreements across various issues. Despite recent positive developments, such as Turkey’s support for Sweden’s NATO membership, tensions persist over matters like Syria, Russia, and the conflict in Gaza.
Erdogan’s recent diplomatic engagements include a visit to Iraq and a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul.
The latter marked the first encounter between Erdogan and a Hamas delegation led by Haniyeh since Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
