Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is “disillusioned” with Washington’s policy in Syria and the refugee crisis while also expressing dismay that Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for a coup attempt, still resides in the US.
The remarks were made to CBS’s 60 Minutes programme, which is set to air in full today.
“We have addressed these issues, discussed them with President (Barack) Obama and Vice-President (Joe) Biden.
“They failed to rise to the occasion and handle these issues seriously. This is quite upsetting for us,” Erdogan told the US broadcaster as Donald Trump prepares to take over the White House.
“I am disillusioned,” the president added according to a transcript of partial remarks released by CBS, apparently in reference to Syria and the refugee crisis.
In Syria, Turkey has staunchly backed  opposition groups, and has been critical of the US for not doing more to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey hosts more than 2mn million Syrian refugees.
Erdogan has said relations with the US may be strained as long as Gulen, a Turkish preacher, has not been extradited to Turkey.
The preacher, who has lived abroad since 1999, was a one-time ally of Erdogan but they have fallen out in recent years.
“I’m not going to blame the United States [for the coup]. But that’s what my people will think. Why are you still keeping that man?” Erdogan demanded.
The US has insisted that Gulen’s extradition must be done through the legal system and based on evidence.
The preacher has denied any involvement in the July coup attempt against Erdogan by a faction in the military.
Turkey has been carrying out wide-ranging purges and crackdowns on alleged followers of Gulen and other opposition circles, including the media and academics, in the months since the coup attempt.