U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a long-awaited meeting at the White House on Thursday evening, in an atmosphere of cautious optimism. The two leaders met for over two hours, focusing on bilateral relations, energy issues, and Turkey’s defense procurement plans.
Trump hinted that the U.S. could move forward with a deal to sell F-35 fighter jets to Ankara, provided Turkey fulfills certain conditions. “We can easily make a deal on the F-35s, but Erdogan must do something for us first,” Trump said, leaving the specific demands unspecified.
The U.S. President also urged Turkey to halt its purchases of Russian oil and gas, stressing that “the best thing Ankara could do is stop financing Moscow while the war in Ukraine continues.” Trump praised Erdogan’s influence with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting he could “play a major role” in peace efforts if he chose to.
The meeting marked a return to the warmer diplomatic tone of the Trump era, following a period of distance during Joe Biden’s presidency. Erdogan arrived in Washington with a list of requests, including F-16 and F-35 deals, the lifting of sanctions, and discussions on the Turkish Halkbank case. Despite cordial remarks, no binding agreements were announced.
On issues of interest to Greece, Trump mentioned the reopening of the Halki Theological School and said he would support the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s efforts, following discussions with Patriarch Bartholomew.
The Turkish leader left without answering questions, while Trump described the talks as “very productive,” promising forthcoming announcements. It remains unclear whether Turkey will be readmitted to the F-35 program or continue to face U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 systems.
