Mr. Erdogan does not face re-election until 2023, but his popularity has fallen amid an economic downturn. With the arrival of President Biden in the White House, Turkey had adopted a notably more muted tone toward the United States, talking up its longstanding alliance and shared strategic interests. Mr. Biden has not talked to Mr. Erdogan since taking office, but his administration officials have already brought concerns about human rights into the mix. Mr. Erdogan has also reiterated his desire to join the European Union. The Council of Europe said on Saturday that Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention was “deplorable because it compromises the protection of women of women in Turkey, across Europe and beyond.”

Source: International New York Times March 20, 2021 12:00 UTC