WASHINGTON -- U.S.-Turkish relations are reaching a fever pitch, and a pastor from North Carolina is part of the ongoing fight.

  • Turkey announced new tariffs against the United States Tuesday night.
  • Some point to the detainment of pastor Andrew Brunson as the latest flashpoint in the relationship.
  • The White House has sanctioned Turkish leaders over Brunson’s detainment.

Tuesday night, Turkey announced new tariffs against the United States, the latest in the mounting tit-for-tat between the long-time allies.

“The US-Turkish relationship right now is probably the worst it has been in a number of decades,” said Jacob Kirkegaard, a fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics.

Kirkegaard points to the detainment of pastor Andrew Brunson as the latest flashpoint in the relationship. Brunson was swept up in the aftermath of a Turkish coups attempt in 2016, and is facing espionage and terrorism-related charges.

“The arrest is frivolous, it appears to be a crude and naive attempt to sort of do a Cold War prisoner exchange, ‘You give me back my Turkish banker, I’ll give you back your pastor,’” Kirkegaard said.

After more than a year behind bars, he was put on house arrest. A court has since denied his appeal for release.

“Turkey and specifically President Erdogan have treated Brunson, who we know to be a very good person and a strong Christian whose done nothing wrong, very unfairly, very badly,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. “It’s something we won’t forget in the administration.”

The White House has sanctioned Turkish leaders over Brunson’s detainment. They have also increased the tariff levels. That has only fanned the flames of Turkey’s economic turmoil. The value of the country’s currency has dropped dramatically over the past two weeks.

“I think this ends at the point where the Turkish economy slows down, goes into crisis,” Kirkegaard said. And that, he warns, could have a lasting global impact, both economically and diplomatically.