Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's White House meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday marked a potential turning point in bilateral relations, with both leaders signaling progress on contentious defense issues and announcing significant commercial agreements. The summit produced optimistic statements about lifting sanctions related to Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems and rekindled discussions about Turkey rejoining the F-35 fighter jet program, though substantial obstacles remain.
According to reporting by Barin Kayaoglu for Al-Monitor, the meeting underscored both leaders' personal chemistry while highlighting the limits of what the partnership can deliver. The talks covered trade, defense sales, and regional conflicts, with Trump describing the discussions as "very conclusive in so many different things."
The most concrete outcome emerged Friday when Turkish Airlines finalized a major Boeing deal worth approximately $40 billion, including up to 75 787 Dreamliners and plans for up to 150 737 MAX jets. The agreement also reportedly includes $10 billion in production arrangements benefiting Turkey's domestic aviation industry, reflecting Ankara's broader ambitions in defense and aerospace sectors.
"Erdogan and Trump have excellent chemistry. The Turkish president is one of Trump's favorite world leaders," Soner Cagaptay, director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Al-Monitor. "Trump likes 'strong' countries, and Erdogan and Turkey deliver on both."
The meeting represented Erdogan's first White House invitation since 2019, signaling efforts to repair previously strained ties. As a goodwill gesture before the visit, Turkey's Trade Ministry lifted retaliatory tariffs imposed against US levies from Trump's first term in 2018. Both nations had previously pledged to raise bilateral commerce to $100 billion annually, though trade in goods and services reached only $43 billion in 2024.
Defense cooperation dominated discussions, with Turkey seeking to finalize a $20 billion F-16 deal covering 40 new aircraft and modernization capabilities. Retired Brigadier General Huseyin Fazla told Al-Monitor that Erdogan views the civilian aircraft purchase as leverage to resolve uncertainties over F-16 and F-35 combat aircraft acquisitions.
However, congressional hurdles present significant challenges. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act blocks F-35 transfers while Turkey possesses the S-400 system, requiring joint certification from the secretaries of State and Defense that Turkey has eliminated the Russian system. Despite Trump's suggestion that congressional sanctions could be lifted "very soon," lawmakers including Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch maintain holds on existing aircraft.
Regional conflicts added complexity to discussions. Trump pressed Erdogan on Ukraine, noting Turkey's neutrality while urging him to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas. Turkey's position as NATO's second-largest importer of Russian seaborne crude after India creates a delicate balancing act between US pressure and Moscow ties.
Gaza presents additional complications. Turkey's close relationship with Hamas, which most NATO allies consider a terrorist organization, makes Ankara an unlikely mediator despite shared desires to end the conflict. Cagaptay warned this stance could lead Congress to penalize Turkey and block F-35 sales.
While both leaders left claiming victories, the summit's outcomes remain contingent on complex negotiations, regulatory approvals, and congressional oversight, suggesting that transforming optimistic rhetoric into concrete results will require sustained diplomatic effort.
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