Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. Erdogan aims to convince Trump to lift US sanctions and allow Turkiye to buy F-35 fighter jets. This is Erdogan’s first visit to the White House in six years. The visit comes as Turkiye hopes to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, which favors closer relations with Ankara.
Under former President Biden, US-Turkiye relations were strained due to Turkey’s ties with Russia. However, Trump’s return to office has improved the relationship, especially on issues like Syria, where both countries now support the central government. Despite this, tensions remain over Israel’s attacks on Gaza, which Erdogan strongly condemned at the UN. These disagreements may complicate talks but are not expected to dominate the agenda.
Read more: Erdogan hopes for Turkiye’s return to US F-35 program in steps
The US imposed sanctions on Turkiye in 2020 after Ankara bought Russian S-400 missile systems. These sanctions blocked Turkiye from acquiring the F-35 jets, which it was previously set to both buy and help manufacture. Erdogan also wants to negotiate the purchase of 40 F-16 jets and 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, though F-35 sales remain legally blocked. US officials have drafted statements for the F-16 deal but excluded F-35s due to legal restrictions.
Besides fighter jets, Turkey also aims to boost air power amid regional security concerns in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Black Sea. The meeting is also expected to cover Turkey’s ongoing Boeing plane purchase, including 787 and 737 jets, with a deal valued at around $10 billion. This shows the broader scope of defense and trade talks between the two countries.
Read more: Turkey signals desire to rejoin US F-35 fighter jet program
Trump and Erdogan’s shared interests and warmer ties offer hope for progress on these issues. Still, any F-35 deal will face resistance in the US Congress. Analysts say a breakthrough depends on political will and diplomatic negotiations. Erdogan remains optimistic, and Trump expects positive results from the meeting.