Trump-Erdogan White House Summit: Negotiations on F-35 Jets, Sanctions Relief, and Defense Cooperation

US President Donald Trump will host Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday, where Erdogan seeks to leverage their warm bilateral relations to persuade Washington to lift sanctions and permit Turkey's purchase of F-35 fighter jets.

Erdogan's White House visit, his first in about six years, comes as Ankara aims to capitalize on the Trump administration's willingness to negotiate arms and trade agreements.

The previous Biden administration maintained distance from Turkey partly due to concerns over Ankara's close ties with Russia. Under Trump, who views Moscow more favorably and shares a closer personal relationship with Erdogan, Turkey anticipates improved diplomatic relations.

Trump and Erdogan – both criticized domestically for autocratic tendencies – experienced a fluctuating relationship during Trump's first term. However, since Trump's return to office, their interests have aligned regarding Syria, previously a major source of bilateral tension, with both nations now supporting the central government.

Their positions remain deeply divided over US ally Israel's military operations in Gaza, which Turkey characterizes as genocide – a potential complication for otherwise anticipated friendly and transactional discussions in the Oval Office.

In his UN address on Tuesday, Erdogan, Turkey's leader for 22 years, stated that "anyone who fails to speak out and take a stand against the barbarity in Gaza shares responsibility for this atrocity."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later remarked on Fox News that world leaders, including Erdogan, could "say what they want to say but at the end of the day, when they want something done, they want to come to the White House."

The improved diplomatic climate has renewed Turkish hopes that Trump and Erdogan, who have exchanged compliments, might find a pathway around US sanctions imposed by Trump himself in 2020 following Turkey's acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

Such progress could potentially enable Ankara to purchase Lockheed Martin's advanced F-35 fighter jets, a program in which Turkey was both a buyer and manufacturer until its exclusion over the S-400 issue.

"Despite expected resistance from US Congress, a green light for Turkish acquisition of F-35s is not inconceivable, provided the political will is there on both sides and diplomats are allowed to hammer out a framework that addresses all the known issues," said Timur Soylemez, a former Turkish ambassador experienced in Turkey-US relations.

Trump expressed optimism before the meeting, saying he expected F-35 discussions "to conclude positively."

Erdogan has indicated that defense industry matters, including F-35s and ongoing negotiations for 40 F-16 jets that Ankara also desires, would be central to the meeting, alongside regional conflicts, energy cooperation, and trade relations.

A US official revealed that Washington recently prepared a statement of intent to facilitate discussions on several sales to Turkey, including the new F-16s that would strengthen its current fleet.

Turkey has requested advanced equipment and modifications for the F-16s, making them costlier than standard F-35s, according to the official. However, F-35s were excluded from the draft statement because US law prohibits their sale while Turkey possesses the S-400 systems.

Turkish government representatives did not immediately respond regarding the F-16 costs.

Turkey, NATO's second-largest military force, aims to enhance its air capabilities to counter perceived growing threats in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Black Sea regions, where it borders both Russia and Ukraine.

Beyond the F-16s and F-35s, Turkey also seeks to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoons – a move that has concerned regional US allies Israel and Greece.

During the meeting, Trump is expected to highlight a Turkish agreement to purchase over 200 Boeing Co aircraft, currently under negotiation by Turkish Airlines. The US official informed Reuters that discussions included 787 and 737 jetliners, and approximately $10 billion in GE aircraft engines.