WASHINGTON—U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House on Sept. 25 to discuss a Boeing deal and other issues, including the long-standing dispute over Turkey’s purchase of a Russian air defense system.
“We do a lot of trade with Turkey, and we’re going to continue,” Trump said in the Oval Office at the beginning of his bilateral meeting with Erdogan. “They build great products—really fantastic manufacturers.”
Trump also said the two leaders would discuss Turkey’s efforts to purchase F-16 and F-35 aircraft.
Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s S-400 air defense system in 2019 led to U.S. sanctions on the Turkish defense industry under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act and its removal from the F-35 program.
On the question of lifting sanctions, Trump said both sides had their own demands and expressed confidence they would reach an agreement.
“You’ll know by the end of the day,” he said.
Erdogan and his delegation spent roughly two hours at the White House. After the meeting, Trump told reporters that the meeting had gone “great” and gave a thumbs-up.
Later in the Oval Office, during the signing of executive orders, Trump said he and Erdogan had a “very good conversation” on military equipment purchases but did not elaborate.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack also told reporters that the Boeing deal has been finalized.
In a recent interview, Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat confirmed that the carrier is considering an order of 250 Boeing aircraft. The deal would mark a major expansion for the country’s national flag carrier, which currently operates a fleet of 485 planes.
Trump said that he and Erdogan had also spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Middle Eastern leaders, saying significant developments could be expected soon.
“We’re getting pretty close to having a deal on Gaza and maybe even peace,” Trump said.
Trump–Erdogan Dynamics
During their meeting at the Oval Office, Trump noted that Erdogan had remained a friend throughout the previous administration.
“When I was in exile, we were still friends,” Trump said. “That’s always a good way to find out—a test of friendship.”
“I am very pleased to be here with my colleagues and friends,” Erdogan said in response, noting that he looked forward to a “thorough discussion” on the F-35s, the F-16s, and the Halkbank case—referring to a U.S. court ruling that the Turkish bank could be prosecuted for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
During the meeting, Trump joked that the Turkish president is “highly opinionated.”
“Usually, I don’t like opinionated people, but I always like this one,” Trump said of Erdogan. “But he’s a tough one.”
Trump’s relationship with Erdogan has changed significantly since 2018, when Washington pressed for the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson after he spent two years in Turkish custody.
Turkey freed Brunson following Trump’s threats to impose significant sanctions on Ankara. A year later, Trump sent Erdogan a public letter warning that he could “destroy” Turkey’s economy if Ankara refused to end its military offensive in northern Syria. Since then, ties between the two leaders have steadily improved.
Trump mentioned the Brunson incident during the meeting.
“I always remember that, but he released him from 35 years in prison,” he said. “And Pastor Brunson now is healthy, happy, and well. We’re very happy about that.”
Turkey’s Russian Oil Purchases
Trump has criticized NATO allies for continuing to buy Russian oil despite their vocal opposition to Russia’s war with Ukraine. In August, Turkey was the third-largest importer of Russian fossil fuels after China and India, according to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 22, Trump criticized America’s NATO allies again for “funding the war against themselves.”
During the meeting, Trump highlighted Erdogan’s strong ties with Russia and Ukraine and his influence across the Middle East, noting that these relationships are crucial for resolving conflicts in the region.
After the meeting, Trump voiced confidence that Erdogan would scale back purchases of Russian oil and gas.
“I believe he will stop,” Trump told reporters. “He’s going to do what’s right.”
Tight Security
Erdogan stayed at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence located across from the White House. Ahead of his arrival, all roads leading to the White House were closed under tight security, similar to the measures taken during Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump in July. No protesters were permitted near the White House.
Erdogan is facing growing pressure from the international community after the arrest and suspension of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu sparked mass protests in Turkey, with tens of thousands taking to the streets. The European Commission and the German Foreign Office condemned the crackdown, saying that political competition should not be fought via the judiciary.
Although Turkey is a NATO ally, the U.S. Congress “remains hostile to Turkey’s Russian ties and human rights record,” Asli Aydintasbas, a fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, wrote in a recent report.
Ongoing tensions between Turkey and Israel over Gaza and Syria also pose a challenge to U.S. policy in the region, she said.
Despite their differences, Ankara and Washington pursue broadly similar goals in Syria.
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the United States and Turkey have become more closely aligned on their key objectives in Syria, with Barrack serving as a key coordinator, according to Aydintasbas.
“Like Ankara, Barrack has embraced the post-Assad regime in Damascus, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa; supports the idea of a unified Syria; and broadly accepts the integration of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, the Syrian Democratic Forces, into the Syrian military—though with greater local autonomy than Ankara would prefer,” she said.
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