Erdogan under fire for ’secret’ meeting with Trump Jr.

A delegation led by US President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 'secretly'. The meeting, which took place in Istanbul last week, was not pre-scheduled. The relevant sources told Middle East-based media outlet Middle East Eye.

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), made the news of the visit public for the first time on Wednesday. He alleged that Erdogan had 'secret discussions' with Trump's son on the Gaza issue.

Ozel told a rally, 'In the protocol, he is only mentioned as a businessman, but his name was not mentioned during the visit.

He added, "Palestine is bleeding, but they are doing business with Trump's son through lobbying companies."

He alleged, "Erdogan pretends to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Palestinian issue, but does not say a word against his real patron, Trump."

However, a Turkish source close to Erdogan told German media outlet DW that Trump Jr. did indeed meet the president, but it was just a 'courtesy meeting.' The source claimed that there was no formal discussion on Gaza or any other issue, and that Özel's allegations do not match reality.

Although Donald Trump Jr. does not hold any official position, he is seen as influential in the White House. He currently serves as the executive vice president of the Trump Organization. It is known that some businessmen were also on a trip to Turkey with him.

His relationship with Turkey is not new. In 2016, he joined a hunting expedition in Istanbul and held meetings. The Trump Organization has investments in Turkey, where the Trump Towers project is being jointly developed with a local company.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Sr. is also known to have good relations with Erdogan. Turkish officials told Middle East Eye that Erdogan wants to hold a bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next week. Ankara hopes that the meeting will discuss the F-16 fighter jet deal, the integration of Syrian Kurds with the Damascus government, the path to a possible F-35 purchase, and Israeli-Turkish tensions over Syria and Gaza.

The documents also show that Trump Jr. regularly travels to the Middle East. He has previously visited Riyadh and Doha on official visits with his father.