US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Erdogan met September 25 at the White House in a bid to mend strained relations, with arms sales, trade deals and the war in Syria dominating talks between the NATO allies.
Longstanding Disputes on Defense
Defense cooperation remains one of the thorniest issues. Ankara continues to seek the return of $1.6 billion it invested in the F-35 program before Washington expelled it in 2019 over Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. Erdogan pressed for sanctions to be lifted and fighter jet sales resumed, telling reporters after the meeting that he expected “practical steps” to restore cooperation. Trump, who described the discussions as “constructive,” said Congress had already allowed the sale of 40 F-16 jets and upgrade kits, though some elements of the deal remain in dispute.
Shared but Uneasy Vision in Syria
Both leaders placed Syria at the center of their talks. Trump credited Erdogan for playing what he called a “responsible role” in the overthrow of brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad last year, adding that he lifted US sanctions “to give Syria a chance to breathe” at Erdogan’s request.
Erdogan emphasized his backing for Syria’s new transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, and stressed the need for international recognition of Damascus at the United Nations. He said Turkey supports reconstruction and wants “all Syrians—Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds, Sunnis, Alawites, Druze and Christians—to live side by side in peace.”
Yet deep differences remain over the PKK-affiliated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). While Washington has worked with the SDF against ISIS, Ankara considers it a terrorist group, due to its PKK ties, and has threatened new incursions into northern Syria. US envoy Tom Barrack, speaking in Ankara earlier this week, said both sides agree on the need to integrate the SDF into the Syrian army under the March 10 accord, but acknowledged “little progress has been made.”
Trade and Economic Ties
The meeting also advanced economic cooperation. Trump announced a prospective sale of more than 200 Boeing aircraft to Turkey, alongside a 20-year deal to supply liquefied natural gas. Tariffs, once a flashpoint in bilateral relations, have eased in Trump’s second term. Ankara recently lifted additional duties on US imports, while Washington’s tariff rate on Turkish goods sits at 15%, among the lowest for major economies.
Erdogan said the talks were “friendly, constructive and fruitful,” while Trump hailed them as “historic.” Despite progress, disputes over defense, Israel and Syria leave the US-Turkish relationship balanced between partnership and rivalry as both leaders look to shape the Middle East’s next chapter.
