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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined not to be subject to the US request to release Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is on trial for terrorism charges. US President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to impose "severe sanctions" if Mr. Brunson was not released. "We will not back down on sanctions," Erdogan told Turkish television. "They should not forget that they will lose a sincere partner," he added.
Turkish President is currently touring several African countries
Erdogan's statement coincided with the rise of anti-American rhetoric. Five pro-government newspapers on Sunday (29/7) bore the same title ("We are not related to the United States").
"Turkey will not kneel in front of anyone," Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. Ankara insisted that the detention and trial of Brunson were court cases. The American priest was tried for allegedly supporting those who had conspired behind a failed coup d'état attempt in 2016 and his existence linked to Kurdish rebels. Earlier this month, the court acquitted Brunson and placed him under house arrest after being jailed for nearly two years. But the Americans accepted Brunson's immediate release, saying the charges were "unfounded". [em]
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