U.S. President Donald Trump and President Tayyip Erdoğan shake hands at the end of a joint news conference at the White House in Washington, U.S., Nov.13, 2019. Credit Photo Reuters
By Daily Sabah
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House on Sept. 25, highlighting close ties between the two leaders and ongoing negotiations on major trade and military agreements.
Trump said the discussions will cover a “large scale” purchase of Boeing aircraft, a new F-16 deal, and the continuation of F-35 fighter jet talks, which he said are expected to conclude positively.
“President Erdoğan and I have always had a very good relationship,” Trump said in a statement, adding that he looks forward to welcoming the Turkish president later this month.
In 2019, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. suspended Turkey from the F-35 program after objecting to its buying a Russian S-400 missile defense system, claiming the Russian system would endanger the fighter jets.
Turkey has repeatedly said there is no conflict between the two and proposed a commission to study the issue.
Turkey also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that the suspension broke the rules.
Ankara maintains that the deal would strengthen not only Türkiye but also NATO.
Meanwhile, Erdoğan said that the two leaders would discuss trade, investment and defense cooperation, stressing that he believes the talks will strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to ending wars and conflicts in the region.
“I believe that my meeting with President Trump will contribute to ending wars and conflicts in our region within the framework of our shared global vision for peace and will further strengthen cooperation between our countries,” Erdoğan said on X.
Turkey has rejected Trump’s plan to remove more than 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, claim U.S. control of it and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” It has also said Israel’s assault on Gaza amounted to a genocide while calling for international measures against its government.