Trump vows 'no concessions' to Turkey over US pastor

IANS  |  Washington 

US has insisted he will not back down in a standoff with over a detained US pastor.

He said he had thought would release pastor after the US helped persuade to free a detained Turkish citizen, reported on Tuesday.

Brunson denies allegations he was in a plot against Turkey's

Trump has imposed tariffs on imports of Turkish and aluminium in response to Recep Tayyip Erdogan's refusal to free Mr Brunson.

The brushed aside concerns that the row between the two Nato allies could cause serious economic damage in and emerging market economies.

"I'm not concerned at all," he said in an Oval Office interview on Monday with news agency. "I'm not concerned. This is the proper thing to do."

Brunson has been held in Turkey for nearly two years over alleged links to outlawed political groups.

The diplomatic spat has worsened a crisis for Turkey's currency, the lira, which has lost about a third of its value against the dollar since January.

This has stoked widespread selling in other emerging markets, sparking fears of a global crisis.

On Monday, Trump demanded Erdogan release Brunson in exchange for the Turkish prisoner freed by

"I got that person out for him," Trump said. "I expect him to let this very innocent and wonderful man and great father and great Christian out of Turkey."

Turkey has urged to hand over Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish suspected in a coup plot against President Erdogan, but the US has refused.

--IANS

pgh/

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, August 21 2018. 07:26 IST