Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concluded a five-day visit to the US on Thursday after attending the 80th UN General Assembly and holding an important meeting with US President Donald Trump, during which the two discussed bilateral trade relations, defence cooperation and regional issues such as the situation in Syria and Gaza.
During his stay in the United States, which included his first official visit to the White House in Donald Trump’s second term, the Turkish leader highlighted the “significant progress” achieved during the talks with the US president. Quoted in newspapers such as Cumhuriyet, Erdoğan told reporters accompanying him on the flight home that his meeting with Trump revolved around common goals such as raising the volume of trade to $100 billion, boosting investment, expanding cooperation in the defence industry and addressing key regional challenges.
“First, we discussed steps we can take to strengthen our trade and investment ties on the basis of our common interests. We also exchanged views on how to facilitate our bilateral trade, including the review of tariffs, so that we can reach our goal of a trade volume of 100 billion dollars,” said Erdoğan, who also revealed that during this visit Ankara and Washington agreed to deepen their strategic cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
The Turkish president assured that the reception at the White House was “very warm” and described his talks with Trump as “sincere, constructive and fruitful“. “As you know, our relationship with Mr Trump has always been very good. We had a special relationship during his first term, and that continues. I think this will have a positive impact on Turkish-American relations,” he said. “Of course, it is not possible to resolve all issues in one meeting. But this meeting has allowed us to make significant progress on many issues,” added Erdoğan.
Trump on Erdoğan: “He is a tough leader with clear ideas“
The Turkish leader explained that the talks also addressed the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the reconstruction process in Syria. “Mr Trump expressed the need to end the conflict in Gaza and reach a permanent peace. And we explained how we can first secure a ceasefire, and then reach a lasting peace. And from this a consensus emerged,” Erdoğan said, insisting that “the two-state solution is the only way to solve the current problem”.
During the meeting at the White House, Trump heaped praise on Erdoğan as a respected leader with a decisive role in resolving regional and global crises, underlining Turkey’s key role in NATO. Trump said of Erdoğan that he is a “tough” leader with “clear ideas” and that he is “doing a great work”, also highlighting the role the Turkish president played in Syria.
“Erdoğan solved the problem in Syria. This is a big victory for Türkiye, and I wanted him to take credit for it,” Trump said, crediting him with playing a key role in efforts to remove Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from power. The US president also stressed that Erdoğan was also one of those responsible for his decision to lift Washington’s “very strong” sanctions on Syria. Trump also recalled that the Turkish leader has the respect of both Russian and Ukrainian leaders: “Erdoğan is a respected leader by both Russian and Ukrainian leaders. I also respect him,” he declared from the Oval Office.
Asked by reporters about the possibility of selling F-35 fighters to Turkey, Trump replied: “I think he (Erdoğan) will be successful in buying the things that he wants to buy”, implying that he would authorise the sale, but putting as a condition that Turkey stops buying Russian oil. The US president also advanced that he was considering lifting sanctions on the Turkish defence sector, imposed over the purchase of Russian S-400 missiles. “Could be very soon. If we have a good meeting, almost immediately,” he said.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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