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Trump meets with Erdoğan on sidelines of NATO summit

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTop Democrat: ‘Obstruction of justice’ is ‘too clear not to include’ in impeachment probe Former US intel official says Trump would often push back in briefings Schiff says investigators seeking to identify who Giuliani spoke to on unlisted ‘-1’ number MORE held an unexpected meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of a NATO summit in London Wednesday.

The Turkish government published photos of the two meeting and White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley later confirmed that Trump and Erdoğan met earlier in the day.

Gidley did not describe the meeting either as a full bilateral meeting or a pull-aside at the summit, nor did he confirm reports that the meeting lasted a half hour.

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The White House later said that Trump and Erdoğan “discussed the importance of Turkey fulfilling its alliance commitments, further strengthening commerce through boosting bilateral trade by $100 billion, regional security challenges, and energy security.”

Trump and other leaders of NATO member countries are meeting for two days in London to discuss a range of issues related to the alliance. The one-on-one meeting between with Erdoğan was not initially on Trump’s official schedule.

French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Jean-Michel MacronOvernight Defense: Trump clashes with Macron at NATO summit | House impeachment report says Trump abused power | Top Dem scolds military leaders on Trump intervention in war crimes cases On The Money: Stocks tumble on Trump China trade remarks | Trump says deal could come after 2020 | Why Wall Street freaked | Trump loses appeal over Deutsche Bank subpoena The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump, Macron clash at NATO summit MORE suggested during a bilateral meeting with Trump on Tuesday that alliance members intended to press Turkey on its decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile systems despite NATO opposition. Macron also said Turkey needed to clarify its ambiguous stance on the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group.

At the same meeting, Trump described his relationship with Erdoğan as a positive and withheld criticism of the Turkish leader.

“I can only say we have a very good relationship with Turkey and President Erdoğan.” Trump said when asked about Ankara’s standing in NATO. “We have a very good relationship.”

Trump also said his administration was “looking at” sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of the S-400 missile system but gave no definitive answer on the subject.

Trump’s meeting with Erdoğan on Wednesday comes weeks after the two met in Washington at the White House. The Nov. 13 meeting, which amid high tensions between Washington and Ankara, was friendly but appeared to accomplish little.