Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed satisfaction with his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, describing the encounter as “sincere, constructive, and productive” while acknowledging that complex bilateral issues cannot be resolved in a single meeting.
As reported by the T24 news site, speaking to journalists on his return flight from Washington, Erdogan said, “We are leaving Washington satisfied. It was a visit too beautiful to be tarnished by mudslinging. Mr. Trump is also a politician who likes to speak openly and express his thoughts without reservation. We are advancing our relations with America based on mutual respect.”
The Turkish president’s first visit to the White House in six years came amid efforts to reset Turkish-American relations, with both leaders emphasizing their personal rapport dating back to Trump’s first presidency. “While it’s not possible to resolve every issue in a single meeting, this contact led to meaningful progress on many topics,” Erdogan stated.
Trade Target and Boeing Deal
The BBC Turkish reported that during the discussions, the leaders addressed their ambitious bilateral trade target of $100 billion. “As leaders, we have the political will to mobilize this,” Erdogan emphasized. Hours after the meeting, Turkish Airlines announced a significant purchase agreement with Boeing for 150 aircraft, with an option for 75 additional planes.
According to the announcement made to Turkey’s Public Disclosure Platform, Turkish Airlines will gain 50 Boeing 787-9 and B-787-10 aircraft with an option for 25 more, along with 100 Boeing 737-8/10 MAX models with an option for an additional 50. The aircraft deliveries are scheduled between 2029 and 2034.
The timing of the announcement is notable, coming immediately after Trump had mentioned during the meeting that they would discuss “large-scale Boeing aircraft sales.” The deal aligns with Turkish Airlines’ ambitious expansion plans to nearly double its fleet from 485 to 813 aircraft by 2033.
Gaza and Regional Peace
A significant portion of the Trump-Erdogan meeting focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader Middle East situation. Erdogan stated that Trump expressed the necessity of ending the conflicts in Gaza and achieving lasting peace. “I support Mr. Trump’s vision for global peace. There is consensus on both sides about stopping the bloodshed,” the Turkish president noted.
Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s unwavering position on Gaza: “Our primary goal as Turkey is to end the massacres in Gaza as soon as possible. It is impossible to explain a situation where children, women, and innocent civilians are losing their lives on security grounds.” He added that the two-state solution remains the formula for achieving lasting peace in the region.
Syria and Regional Stability
The leaders also discussed Syria’s future, particularly following Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s participation in the UN General Assembly for the first time in 58 years. Erdogan stressed Turkey’s commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting ongoing cooperation projects in various fields.
“We want a country where Syrians of all identities - Arabs, Turkmens, Kurds, Sunnis, Alawites, Druze, and Christians - live side by side in peace,” Erdogan said, warning against any attempts to undermine this vision. He particularly emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions on Syria for the country’s reconstruction.
Broader Implications
The meeting and subsequent Boeing deal reflect Trump’s broader strategy of leveraging diplomatic meetings to secure commercial agreements for American companies. Since returning to office, Trump has overseen similar deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
For Turkey, the engagement represents an opportunity to reset relations that have been strained over issues including Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems, which led to CAATSA sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program. When asked about lifting sanctions, Trump had responded, “If we have a nice meeting, it could happen at any time.”
Photo: T24