Turkish president rejects US' 'threatening language'
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Washington prefers pastor to its NATO ally
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday rejected "threatening language" of the U.S. administration.
"They are threatening us. You cannot bring [Turkish] people to their knees by using a threatening language. We are knowledgeable with justice and law," Erdogan said in his address in the Black Sea province of Ordu.
Erdogan's remarks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
Calling on the U.S., Erdogan said: "It is a shame. You prefer a pastor to a strategic ally of yours in NATO."
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
Meanwhile, Erdogan also visited the Unye district, which was affected by heavy rainfalls since Wednesday afternoon that caused landslides and flooding.
