Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the White House on Thursday for his first visit in nearly six years, seeking to capitalise on what Ankara describes as the warmest U.S.–Turkey ties in years.
Erdogan is being hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly signaled his readiness to strike high-profile deals in return for trade and defense agreements. The Turkish leader’s agenda is stacked with demands and offers that could reshape the economic and security partnership between the two NATO allies.
Fighter jets and commercial aircraft
At the top of Erdogan’s shopping list are advanced F-35 fighter jets, a program Turkey was suspended from in 2019, as well as more than 200 commercial airplanes, a package that could run into tens of billions of U.S. dollars. Erdogan is expected to argue that lifting sanctions and reopening defense cooperation would mark a new era of trust.
Beyond defence: energy and trade
From defense to energy, Erdogan is aiming to leave Washington with agreements covering multiple sectors. He hopes to build on a warmer climate signaled earlier this week, when Ankara announced the termination of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports imposed during the 2018 trade dispute.
Regional flashpoints
The talks will also cover geopolitics, with the war in Gaza and wider Middle East tensions high on the agenda. Both leaders are expected to present themselves as dealmakers able to balance security interests with economic gains.
Today’s meeting underscores Erdogan’s gamble: that Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy will allow Turkey to re-enter programs and secure deals once thought out of reach.
Reuters, Guardian, Turkish news