Joe Biden apologizes for suggesting Turkey helped ISIS

Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday apologized to Turkish President Recep Erdogan after triggering a diplomatic spat when he accused Turkey of enabling ISIS.

On Thursday, Biden claimed Erdogan conceded to him that Turkey "let too many people through" its border, the implication being that some were militants on their way to join up with ISIS. Erdogan took offense to the remark, denying he'd ever said such a thing and demanding an apology.

So late Saturday, Biden spoke with Erdogan and "apologized for any implication that Turkey or other allies and partners in the region had intentionally supplied or facilitated the growth of ISIL," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

As The New York Times notes, there is "widespread evidence" that thousands of fighters have crossed Turkey's border to fight with ISIS in Syria and Iraq.