Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 25 told the UN General Assembly in New York that his country could not remain silent over the use of sanctions as weapons.

In a clear reference to the sanctions imposed on Turkey by the US after Ankara refused to arrange the release of North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, Erdogan said: “None of us can remain silent on the arbitrary cancellation of commercial agreements and the use of economic sanctions as weapons.”

Opinion is split on how much of a contributor the rift between Nato allies Turkey and the US over Brunson and various other issues has been in the acceleration of the Turkish currency crisis. But with Turkey now bidding to persuade international investors that it does not next face a banking crisis, a soothing of relations with the Trump administration—which has also tightened steel and aluminium trade tariffs against the Turks who responded with tariffs on US cars, alcohol and tobacco—would certainly be a help in relieving some economic pressure. There has been some speculation this week that talks between Turkish and US officials during the UN General Assembly week could produce a breakthrough in the case of Brunson, on trial on espionage and terrorism charges which the White House has said are contrived.

Turkey says the US must respect the legal process for the pastor, but Trump has sent out tweets demanding his release. Brunson is currently under house arrest.

“Today, some countries are persistently trying to create chaos. We are in favour of solving our problems through conducting a constructive dialogue on equal terms,” Erdogan also said in his speech.

Prior to the speech, Erdogan’s communication adviser Fahrettin Altun posted on Twitter a photograph of Erdogan and Trump shaking hands and smiling at the UN.

Ankara and Washington are also at odds over Syria. Washington backs and has armed Kurdish rebels whom Turkey regards as terrorists.

“Those who equip terrorists with tens of thousands of trucks and thousands of cargo planes loaded with arms for the sake of their tactical interests will most definitely feel sorrow in the future,” Erdogan said in his address.

The US, meanwhile, is exploring concerns that Turkey’s planned deployment of the Russian-made S-400 advanced missile defence system could compromise the security of some US-made weapons, including the F-35 stealth fighter jet. Deliveries of the F-35 to Turkey are on hold.