Turkey’s Erdogan told Trump that Venezuela must not descend into chaos, warning that force over law leads to international instability.
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he warned US counterpart Donald Trump that Venezuela must not collapse into chaos.
Erdogan revealed the message during a Monday phone call days after US forces ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
“Any attack on the sovereignty of the people and any violation of international law will generate serious complications within the international order,” Erdogan said he told Trump.
He added that “Venezuela must not descend into chaos or instability” in comments to Turkish television.
US forces bombed Caracas and toppled Maduro on Saturday after months of threats and pressure.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a New York court on Monday.
“When force prevails over law, instability, crises, and conflicts ensue,” Erdogan warned.
He stated Turkey strives to act in the best interests of both Turkey and the friendly Venezuelan people.
Erdogan later reiterated his belief that Trump would soon readmit Turkey to the F-35 fighter jet programme.
Turkey was removed from the programme in 2019 over its purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defence system.
Erdogan called Turkey’s exclusion “unjust” and said readmission was “important and necessary”.
