The two leaders will discuss an F-16 deal and the purchase of Boeing aircraft, the president said.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump will welcome Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House on Sept. 25 to discuss a Boeing deal and bilateral issues, including the long-standing dispute over Turkey’s purchase of a Russian air defense system.
Trump announced the meeting on Sept. 19, saying that he expected to finalize trade and military agreements.
“I am pleased to host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of Turkey, at the White House on September 25th. We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively,” the president wrote in a social media post.
“President Erdogan and I have always had a very good relationship. I look forward to seeing him on the 25th!”
The Turkish government is preparing to buy hundreds of Boeing airplanes, according to Turkish media reports.
In a recent interview, Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat confirmed that the carrier may finalize a deal to purchase 250 Boeing aircraft during the visit. If announced at the White House, the order would mark a major expansion for the country’s national flag carrier, which currently operates a fleet of 485 planes.
Local media also reported discussions about a potential F-16 deal, though no agreement has been confirmed.
Trump’s relationship with Erdogan has changed significantly since 2018, when Washington pressed for the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson after he spent two years in Turkish custody.
Turkey freed Brunson following Trump’s threats to impose large sanctions on Ankara. A year later, Trump sent Erdogan a public letter warning he could “destroy” Turkey’s economy if Ankara refused to end its military offensive in northern Syria. Since then, ties between the two leaders have steadily improved.
A key sticking point at the White House meeting is expected to be Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s S-400 air defense system in 2019 led to U.S. sanctions on the Turkish defense industry under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and its removal from the F-35 program.
During the visit, Erdogan is expected to press for Turkey’s reentry into the program, according toTurkish media.
By Emel Akan
