Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first visit to the White House in six years signals Ankara’s renewed attempt to restore access to U.S. defense technology, particularly the advanced F-35 fighter jets. Turkey was expelled from the program in 2020 after it acquired Russia’s S-400 missile system, a move that triggered U.S. sanctions and deepened mistrust within NATO. The return of Donald Trump to the presidency has opened space for a more transactional approach, with Ankara betting on Trump’s deal-making instincts to break the deadlock.
Why It Matters
The talks will test whether a NATO member under sanctions can re-enter advanced U.S. defense programs without reversing controversial policies. The outcome has wider implications for alliance cohesion, defense industrial cooperation, and U.S. leverage over partners engaging with Russia. Beyond fighter jets, billions in pending Boeing aircraft deals underline the economic stakes.
In Washington, officials remain divided. The administration has floated draft agreements for F-16 sales and upgrades, but omitted F-35s due to legal restrictions. Congress is expected to resist lifting sanctions, citing both Turkey’s ties with Moscow and concerns from U.S. allies such as Greece and Israel. Erdogan, meanwhile, has doubled down on framing the issue as central to Turkey’s defense posture, alongside new negotiations for Eurofighter jets. At the UN, he sharpened his rhetoric on Gaza, a position that resonates domestically but complicates ties with Washington.
Future Scenarios
If Trump decides to ease sanctions and pursue F-35 sales, it could mark a dramatic reset in U.S. Turkey relations, but risks a clash with Congress and key allies. If the deadlock persists, Ankara is likely to deepen defense diversification, strengthening ties with European and possibly Russian suppliers. Either way, the meeting underscores how bilateral ties are now framed less by shared democratic values and more by pragmatic bargaining over arms, trade, and regional crises.
With information from Reuters
