Turkish PM Erdogan: 'I no longer talk to Obama'

Turkish PM Erdogan: &#039;I no longer talk to Obama&#039;

(Image credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has apparently cut all ties with President Obama.

After tension increased between Ankara and Washington over the conflict in Gaza, Erdogan said in a TV interview Monday that he has stopped all phone conversations with Obama. Turkey, an opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, "felt betrayed when the United States backed away from military action against Damascus in September," AFP reports.

"In the past, I was calling him directly," Erdogan said on the pro-government ATV channel. "Because I can't get the expected results on Syria, our foreign ministers are now talking to each other... I expect justice in this process. I couldn't imagine something like this from those who are championing justice."

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AFP adds that Erdogan's last phone conversation with Obama was in February. Erdogan said he is, however, talking to Vice President Joe Biden. "He calls me, and I call him," Erdogan said.

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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.