US-Turkey feud could end 'instantly' if pastor freed, says top Trump aide

Turkey could lift itself out of its damaging spat with the United States "instantly" by releasing the American pastor it has jailed, President Donald Trump's national security adviser said on Wednesday according to Reuters.

John Bolton added that the recently announced multi-billion cash booster from Qatar would not be enough to salvage Ankara's economy.

The Turkish lira nose dived following doubled US tariffs on Turkish goods as retribution for the detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson for alleged complicity in a failed 2016 coup. Turkey has since complained to the World Trade Organisation over what it sees as exorbitant tariffs.

Brunson denies all charges, however Ankara has in the past hinted it is seeking the extradition of the US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom President Tayyip Erdogan accuses of being behind the failed coup, in exchange for Brunson's release.

"Look, the Turkish government made a big mistake in not releasing Pastor Brunson," Bolton told Reuters in an interview during a visit to Israel on Wednesday.

"Every day that goes by that mistake continues, this crisis could be over instantly if they did the right thing as a NATO ally, part of the West, and release pastor Brunson without condition."

Bolton denied that Turkey’s membership of NATO was in the balance due to the feud, reiterating that the release of Pastor Brunson, along with other Americans that Turkey has detained illegitimately, is the priority.

The US however rejected an earlier offer made by Turkey for Brunson's release, and that of other US citizens as well as three Turkish nationals working for the US government.

Turkey's offer was on the condition that Washington drop a probe into Halkbank, which is facing possible muti-billion dollar fines for helping Iran evade US sanctions.

Qatar's Emir this month pledged $15 billion of direct investments for Turkey, giving a much-needed boost to a lira that has lost some 37 percent of its value this year. Following the investment pledge, the lira strengthened three percent against the dollar on Thursday.

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