Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu denied rumors today that U.S. President Barack Obama issued an ultimatum to a high-ranking Turkish official, CNN Turk reported.
Davutoglu said earlier this week that Obama did not tell Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan that the United States will not sell weapons to Turkey if the country does not change its foreign policy.
After his recent visit to Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said the United States has no right to make an ultimatum to Turkey in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras.
The Financial Times reported this week that Obama told Erdogan that the United States will not sell weapons to Turkey if the country does not change its position toward Israel and Iran.
According to the newspaper, Washington is dissatisfied with Turkey's rigid attitude toward Israel in light of the "Flotilla of Freedom" incident, as well as Ankara's loyal approach to the Iranian nuclear program. A source told the newspaper that Obama expressed his dissatisfaction to the PM during the G8 summit in Toronto.
Davutoglu called the information "unfounded," saying the two leaders recently discussed the "friendly ties" between the two countries at a meeting in Toronto.
Meanwhile, White House spokesman Dan Burton said Obama made no such statement to the PM or any other Turkish official.
"No ultimatum was ever made," Burton said.