Decisive Meeting Between Trump and Erdogan in Ankara; End of Sanctions and Return of F-35

Warm Welcome in Ankara: The Return of Personal Diplomacy

On July 7, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump landed at Ankara airport in his new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar [1]. Upon arrival, he was officially welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This meeting, held on the sidelines of the 36th NATO Leaders' Summit in Ankara, signifies a revival of personal diplomacy between the two leaders, which has faced many ups and downs in recent years [2]. Arriving at the Beştepe Presidential Complex, Trump emphasized that Washington-Ankara relations are at their historical best.

Breaking the Sanctions Barrier; From CAATSA to F-35

The most significant news of this summit was Trump's official announcement regarding the lifting of CAATSA sanctions against Turkey. These sanctions, imposed in 2020 due to the purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, were considered a major obstacle to defense cooperation between the two countries [3]. Trump stated in a joint press conference: "We do not want to sanction our friends; it is time to set these restrictions aside."

In addition to lifting the sanctions, the issue of Turkey's return to the F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet project was seriously raised. Erdogan expressed optimism about this decision, stating that he expects a favorable decision to be made during this summit [4]. Reports also indicate that the Trump administration intends to approve the sale of General Electric engines for Turkey's indigenous fighter jet, named KAAN [1].

The New Syria and Complex Middle East Equations

A significant portion of the bilateral talks was dedicated to the situation in Syria. With the emergence of a new regime in Damascus led by Ahmed al-Sharaa following the fall of Assad in 2024, Turkey is recognized as the main actor and economic anchor of Syria [4]. Trump and Erdogan discussed the future of border security and the reconstruction of Syria. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked Trump to exercise caution in selling advanced weapons to Turkey before this meeting, but it seems Trump's priority is strengthening NATO's eastern flank and cooperating with Ankara [3].

NATO 3.0 and Pressure on European Allies

This meeting took place while the NATO summit in Ankara is being held under the slogan "NATO 3.0." Trump once again emphasized the need for member countries to increase their defense budgets to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product [1]. Praising Turkey's loyalty, he called on other European members to take more responsibility for the security of their continent. The issue of the war in Ukraine and Trump's potential meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ankara are other focal points of this eventful trip that could draw a new roadmap for global security [2].