Thread by @Jordanfabian

Vice President Mike Pence has landed in Ankara, where the latest is that Turkish President Erdogan threw President Trump’s sternly worded letter in the trash. Pence, Pompeo and other top US officials are scheduled to meet with Erdogan later today.

Story on Pence’s visit here with colleague @TurkWonk bnnbloomberg.ca/pence-heads-to…

And a story from @SelcanHacaoglu —> Turkey Set To Reject Pence Call For Truce In Syria

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Pence, Pompeo, O’Brien, Satterfield & Jeffrey leave US ambassador’s residence for their meeting with Erdogan

Press vans currently holding outside Turkish presidential complex. Pence, Pompeo and other official vehicles went inside.

*ERDOGAN MEETING WITH U.S. VP PENCE BEGINS IN ANKARA

(Press is not inside)

Pence and Erdogan’s one-on-one meeting is ~still ongoing~ aide says (Press does not have access). Was supposed to wrap up more than an hour ago.

Update: VP aide now says one-on-one meeting ended at 4:49 PM. Lasted roughly 80 minutes. Was originally slated for 10-15.

Press allowed into Pence-Erdogan expanded meeting, after what we were told was US’ insistence. No remarks. US and Turkish officials sat there stone faced

We are nearing hour 4 here at the Turkish presidential complex. Pence and US delegation are still in expanded meeting. No updates on what, if any, progress has been made.

We’ve been told Erdogan is sending food to the US media

The food was indeed brought out, and cameras set up inside presidential palace, but press pool was rushed out for Pence’s departure. He shook hands with Turkish VP and got in motorcade without taking questions. With that, roughly 4.5 hours of talks concluded.

Now awaiting Pence-Pompeo press conference at US ambassador’s residence in Ankara

News from Ankara: Turkey Agrees to 120-Hour Cease-Fire in Syria, Pence says bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

And almost immediately, Turkish FM Cavusoglu calls it a “temporary pause” to Syria operation and not a cease-fire (via @turkwonk & @selcanhacaoglu)

Trump on Erdogan, whom he urged in wild letter this week not to be a “tough guy” in Syria:

“He’s a hell of a leader. He’s a tough man. He’s a strong man and he did the right thing,”

Via @justinsink in Texas

*TRUMP SAYS ERDOGAN WILL LIKELY COME TO WHITE HOUSE NEXT MONTH