Trump is hosting Turkey’s Erdogan at the White House as US considers lifting ban on
WASHINGTON: US President will hold talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday as the Republican leader has indicated that the US government’s hold on sales of advanced fighter jets to Ankara may soon be lifted.
During Trump’s first term, the United States a NATO ally, from its flagship F-35 fighter jet program after it purchased an air defense system from Russia.US officials worried that Turkey’s use of Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system could be used to gather data on the capabilities of the F-35 and that the information could end up in Russian hands. But Trump last week gave Turkey hope that a resolution to the matter is near as he announced plans for Erdogan’s visit.
“We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively,” Trump said in a social The visit will be Erdogan’s first trip to the White House since 2019. The two leaders forged what Trump has described as a “very good relationship” during his first White House go-around despite the US-Turkey relationship often being complicated.
US officials have cited concerns about Turkey’s human rights record under Erdogan and the country’s ties with Russia. Tensions between Turkey and Israel, another important American ally, over Gaza and Syria have at times made relations difficult with Turkey.Turkey also believes it has emerged as a credible broker in the Black Sea region, preserving relations with both Ukraine and Russia.This is not a fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said. “This is an occupation, deportation, exile, genocide and life destruction, mass destruction policy carried on by invoking the events of October the 7th.”
Turkey is an influential actor in neighboring Syria as the rebel groups it supported during the civil war took power last December.
However, the fall of Assad aggravated already tense relations between Turkey and Israel, with their conflicting interests pushing
Erdogan has made clear he’s eager to see the hold on F-35s lifted