Washington: US President Donald Trump has thanked Turkey for freeing American pastor Andrew Brunson after two years in custody.

According to the report in Arab News,Trump said that it would help improve strained relations between US and Turkey.

He also denied cutting a deal for Brunson’s release.

Trump in his tweet said,”I don’t make deals for hostages.There was, however, great appreciation on behalf of the United States, which will lead to good, perhaps great, relations between the United States & Turkey !”
Brunson, who had been under house arrest since July, was released on Friday.

In return President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also tweeted.His tweet said,”Mr. President @realDonaldTrump, in line with what I have always said, the Turkish judicial decision was taken independently.”

While relations between the two NATO allies have been strained in recent times,the dispute over Brunson brought new tension to their relationship.

In August,Trump authorized a doubling of duties on aluminum and steel imported from Turkey and Turkey in return increased tariffs on US cars, alcohol and tobacco imports.

Brunson was accused of links to Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen in 2016.

Brunson denied the accusations and Washington had demanded his immediate release.