Turkey is strong enough and will not succumb to the US blackmail and threats, said Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan.

"I believe that the American government will ultimately correct its wrong perception of our country. We are slowly leaving behind the troublesome period in relations with Europe. To turn our back on such a region, our biggest trading partner, is out of the question,” Erdogan said.

The US does not consider the Turkish sensitivity in Syria and continues to cooperate with terrorist organizations, he said adding that Brunson’s case was a pretext for imposing US sanctions on Turkey.

“We are determined to fight this twisted attitude that has attempted to impose sanctions on our country by using a pastor who has dark ties to terror groups as the pretext,” Erdogan said. I believe the U.S. administration will correct its wrong view toward our country sooner or later. We hope to solve the matters between us as soon as possible and develop ties with the U.S. in politics and the economy once again, in line with the spirit of being strategic partners,” Bloomberg reported quoting Erdogan.