Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Donald Trump's election as the 45th president of the United States would mark a "new era," adding that he hopes the US election will "bring favorable developments."
"With this choice, a new era has begun in America. I hope this choice of the American public will contribute to beneficial steps toward basic rights and freedoms, democracy and developments in our region," Erdogan said.
Separately, the Turkish government congratulated Trump for his presidential victory while repeating its call for the extradition of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt of July 15.
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: "We congratulate Mr. Trump. I am openly calling on the new president from here about the urgent extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the mastermind, executor and perpetrator of the heinous July 15 coup attempt, who lives on US soil." The prime minister said Gulen's extradition could mark a new beginning in U.S.-Turkish relations.
"I am sure that the strategic partnership of Turkey and the US, which is based on a long history, has created an opportunity for the new president, paying attention to Turkey's sensitivity in the fight against terrorism, carrying forward traditional friendly relations, [and] prioritizing peace and security in the region," Yildirim added.
Turkey has been vehemently demanding Gulen's extradition from the US since the failed putsch of July 15. Gulen, once a staunch political ally of Erdogan, has been living in self-exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.
Procurement officials in Ankara said the future of defense cooperation would largely depend on whether Trump would favour a policy for more technology transfers to Turkey.
"We do not think Trump's election will be an immediate game-changer in procurement ties," one official said. "Over time, however, we would expect him to pursue a policy to share more with NATO ally Turkey."
Burak Ege Bekdil was the Turkey correspondent for Defense News.
