Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump Republican leaders will hold talks with Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday as the US government shows that it holds sales of senior fighter jets to Ankara.
During Trump’s first term, the United States I drove the turkey out, NATO Ally from the flagship F-35 fighter jet program after purchasing air defense systems from Russia. US officials were worried that Turkey used the use of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system to collect data on the F-35’s capabilities and could end up in the hands of Russia.
However, Trump announced plans to Turkey to Erdogan’s visit last week, and hoped the resolution in question was approaching.
“We are working on many trade and military deals with the President, including large-scale purchases of Boeing aircraft, large-scale F-16 trades and continuing the F-35 talks.
This visit will mark the first trip to Erdogan’s White House since 2019. The two leaders fake what Trump described as “a very good relationship” while his first White House was on the scene, despite the often complicated relationship between the US and the crowd.
US officials cite concerns about Turkish human rights records under Erdogan and their relationship with Russia. Tensions between Türkiye and Israel are another important American ally around Gaza and Syria, and sometimes make relations with Turkey difficult.
Erdogan revealed he would like to see the F-35 unlock.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a strategic partnership, and I don’t think it’s the right way,” Erdogan said this week in an interview with Fox News Channel about a special report with Brett Byer.
Turkish officials say they have already paid $1.4 billion to the Jets.
President Joe Biden’s administration retained Erdogan, who served as Turkish president since 2014 and was prime minister over a decade ago.
The reluctance to be deeply involved stems from the Türkiye’s democratic backslide record and its close relationship with Moscow.
It is owned by the opposition parties and human rights groups. Erdogan accused of undermining democracy And he restrains freedom of expression during his 20+ years of power. International observers say unfounded investigations and prosecutions of human rights activists, journalists and opposition politicians remain a persistent issue in Turkey.
But Trump sees Erdogan as a critical partner and a trustworthy intermediary in his efforts to find the purpose of the war. Ukraine and Gaza. The Trump administration also has been in close sync with Turkish approach to Syria, as the two sides stitched together towards a once isolated country following the collapse of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December last year.
Trump and European leaders have been chasing Erdogan in accepting the Syrian president Ahmad al-SharaHe once led rebel groups designated as foreign terrorist groups.
Trump’s diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Met with Alshara Monday on the bystanders of the United Nations General Assembly.
Erdogan wants to place his country as it is. Stability points In a turbulent moment. He believes Turkey can play a key role in Europe’s security and can span geopolitical sectors across tariffs in Ukraine, Syria and the US that sparked the world trade war.
Turkey also believes it has emerged as a reliable broker in the Black Sea region and maintains ties with both Ukraine and Russia.
Turkey is an influential actor in neighbouring Syria as rebel groups that supported the Civil War came to power in December last year. However, Assad’s collapse has aggravated already tense relations between Türkiye and Israel, and their opposing interests drive the relations Possibility of collision courses.
On his part, Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be “rational” in his dealings with Ankara.
Erdogan on Tuesday attended a Trump-sponsored group meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Trump brought together eight Arab and Muslim leaders to discuss the Gaza War for nearly two years.
Turkish leaders have been sharply critical of the handling of Israeli wars, which began after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and 251 were taken prisoner. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, and about 90% of the territorial homes have been destroyed or damaged.
Erdogan claims that in his speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, it was again ordered to Israel, and that it was countered by Israel and the United States, claiming that its forces committed genocide.
“This is not a fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said. “This is the policy of mass destruction, occupation, deportation, exile, genocide, and destruction of life, carried out by calling the events of October 7th.”
