Turkey Blocks Leonardo Helicopter Purchase after Italian PM Calls Erdogan a “Dictator”
Turkey has reportedly frozen an $83 million deal to buy ten Leonardo AW-169 helicopters after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a “dictator.”
According to La Repubblica and Il Fatto Quotidiano, Turkish authorities have started to send “threatening signals” since there is no reaction from Rome.
The contract for Leonardo’s training helicopters was expected to be signed in the coming days.
In addition, at least three Italian companies operating in Turkey have also received a notice from the Turkish government, including energy company Ansaldo Energia that builds power plants in Turkey.
On Thursday, Draghi called the Turkish leader a “dictator” and upbraided his “inappropriate behaviour” during a recent visit of top European Union officials to Turkey. The comment added fuel to a dispute over a perceived seating snub involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Draghi said Erdogan’s behavior was inappropriate and that he was sorry for the “humiliation” von der Leyen had suffered.