![President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_08_23-Turkish-President-Erdogan-receives-US-Secretary-of-Defence-Mattis20170823_2_25388354_25185538.jpg?fit=1200%2C758&ssl=1)
![President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_08_23-Turkish-President-Erdogan-receives-US-Secretary-of-Defence-Mattis20170823_2_25388354_25185535.jpg?w=774&h=541&ssl=1 "Turkish President Erdogan receives US Secretary of Defence Mattis")
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]
![President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_08_23-Turkish-President-Erdogan-receives-US-Secretary-of-Defence-Mattis20170823_2_25388354_25185536.jpg?w=418&h=268&ssl=1 "Turkish President Erdogan receives US Secretary of Defence Mattis")
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]
![President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_08_23-Turkish-President-Erdogan-receives-US-Secretary-of-Defence-Mattis20170823_2_25388354_25185537.jpg?w=418&h=269&ssl=1 "Turkish President Erdogan receives US Secretary of Defence Mattis")
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]
![President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017_08_23-Turkish-President-Erdogan-receives-US-Secretary-of-Defence-Mattis20170823_2_25388354_25185538.jpg?w=1196&h=755&ssl=1 "Turkish President Erdogan receives US Secretary of Defence Mattis")
President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) receives U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis (L) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on 23 August, 2017 [Kayhan Özer/Anadolu Agency]