Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Ukraine conflict, Syria’s stability, and defense cooperation. Erdogan expressed Turkey’s support for peace initiatives and emphasized collaboration to lift sanctions on Syria and address terrorism. He also urged for changes in U.S. defense policy towards Turkey, notably concerning F-16 and F-35 programs.
On Sunday, the office of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that he engaged in a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. During this discussion, they addressed strategies to conclude the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and aimed to restore stability in Syria. Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to supporting Trump’s initiatives for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
In the dialogue, Erdogan highlighted the necessity of collaborating to end sanctions on Syria, which he believes are essential for restoring stability and enabling the new administration to function, thus facilitating the return of Syrian citizens to their homeland. Furthermore, Erdogan urged the United States to consider Turkey’s interests in their shared fight against terrorism.
Erdogan reinforced Turkey’s position regarding the U.S. alliance with a Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey categorizes as a terrorist organization, expressing that this relationship is a betrayal of NATO commitments. Moreover, he called for the lifting of CAATSA sanctions, completion of Turkey’s F-16 procurement, and re-integration into the F-35 program to further enhance defense collaboration between Turkey and the United States.
The imposition of U.S. sanctions stems from Turkey’s previous acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense systems, which led to Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019.
In conclusion, President Erdogan’s conversation with President Trump highlighted Turkey’s stance on various geopolitical issues, including the urgent need for peace in Ukraine, sanctions on Syria, and defense cooperation. Turkey’s concerns over U.S. alliances with groups perceived as terrorist organizations were also evident. Overall, the interactions signify Turkey’s imperative to safeguard its national interests while maintaining dialogue with the United States.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
