Erdogan: US provokes economic crisis in Türkiye
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has blamed Western countries, primarily the United States, for provoking the economic crisis in Türkiye in 2018.
“Behind Türkiye’s August 2018 currency market manipulations were some Western countries, mainly the United States, in order to put pressure on Ankara,” Erdogan said during a meeting with media representatives in Ankara on Thursday. His remarks were quoted by Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan with pro-government protesters. Photo: AFP 2019.
The Turkish lira suffered a historic slump against the dollar and euro last year, eventually losing more than 30% of its value against those currencies. The situation worsened after US President Donald Trump announced that he had agreed to double tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel – to 20% and 50%, respectively. In response, Ankara sharply increased tariffs on 22 US goods, including tobacco, alcohol, cars, beauty products, rice and fruit, totaling $533 million in annual supply contracts.
