Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he did not discuss the United States' recognition of the Armenian Genocide at a meeting with American leader Joe Biden on Monday, June 14, Ahval reports.

Asked whether the topic came up during their meeting on the sidelines of a key NATO summit, Erdogan said: “Thank goodness, the issue never came up.”

Biden has known Erdogan for years but their relationship has frequently been contentious. During his election campaign, Biden drew ire from Turkish officials after he described Erdogan as an “autocrat”.

In April, Biden infuriated Ankara by recognizing the Armenian Genocide.