Washington, September 25, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met at the White House on Thursday for high-stakes talks covering arms sales, sanctions, and regional conflicts.
Trump said discussions would focus on Ankara’s requests to purchase F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as U.S. Patriot missile defense systems.
“They want to buy F-16s, F-35s and other things. And we’re going to talk about it,” he told reporters at the start of the meeting. “We will discuss the Patriot systems. We will discuss F-35.”
Erdogan, for his part, confirmed he aimed for a “comprehensive discussion” not only on advanced U.S. aircraft but also on issues such as Halkbank, a state-owned Turkish lender facing U.S. scrutiny. He also noted Turkey’s readiness to address the future of the Halki seminary on Heybeliada and said he would raise the matter with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew upon his return.
The American president signaled that Washington could move quickly to lift CAATSA sanctions imposed on Turkey if the talks yielded progress.
“It could happen very soon, almost immediately, if we have a good meeting,” Trump said.
The two leaders also addressed wider geopolitical challenges. Erdogan expressed confidence that joint U.S.-Turkish diplomacy could ease regional conflicts.
“I believe together with President Trump we will overcome these problems in the region,” he said.
Trump praised Erdogan as a “tough politician” but stressed their “excellent relationship in both war and trade.” He also pressed Ankara to stop importing Russian oil. “I’d like him to stop buying oil from Russia,” Trump told reporters.
Administration officials suggested decisions on potential arms sales to Turkey could be made before the end of the day.
“He needs certain things, and we need certain things. We will come to a solution. You’ll know by tonight,” Trump added.
