U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he is confident Turkey will stop buying Russian oil, hinting at a potential deal to lift sanctions on Ankara and allow the purchase of advanced American F-35 fighter jets. The remarks followed a two-hour meeting at the White House with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, where the two leaders discussed energy, defense, and regional security.
Trump has been pressuring European allies to cut reliance on Russian oil as part of his broader effort to restrict Moscow’s funding for its invasion of Ukraine. While Hungary and Slovakia were given some leeway due to limited alternatives, Trump suggested Turkey could easily shift to other suppliers. “I believe he will stop it, yeah. Because he can buy it from a lot of other people,” Trump said of Erdogan.
The meeting also revived speculation about Turkey’s re-entry into the U.S. F-35 fighter program. Ankara was expelled in 2020 after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems, triggering American sanctions. Trump now says he is open to lifting those restrictions “very soon” if progress is made, adding, “I think he’ll be successful in buying the things that he wants to buy.”
For Erdogan, the visit marked his first trip to Washington in six years. He aims to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, which has signaled more flexibility than President Joe Biden’s White House, particularly regarding Turkey’s complex relationship with Russia. With NATO’s second-largest army, Ankara is pushing to modernize its air power through both F-35s and additional F-16s, citing security challenges in the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Black Sea.
Both leaders, often criticized for their authoritarian styles, appear aligned on several fronts, including Syria. The renewed warmth raises hopes in Ankara that Trump’s administration will pave the way for major defense and trade deals, reshaping U.S.-Turkey relations.