Turkey’s presidency said on Twitter that Erdogan had attended the reception and provided a picture showing the Turkish leader and his wife Emine with Trump and first lady Melania. It gave no other details and did not say whether the two leaders only met or also had talks.
Turkish markets have been watching Erdogan’s trip closely for any signs that a meeting between the NATO allies might be able to dispel the threat of U.S. sanctions over Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.
Washington says the S-400 is incompatible with NATO defenses and poses a threat to Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 stealth jet program, which Turkey was also planning to buy.