Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed key issues such as ending the Russia-Ukraine war and restoring stability in Syria. Erdogan voiced Turkey’s support for peace initiatives and emphasized the need for U.S. cooperation regarding defense and counter-terrorism efforts. He urged lifting sanctions on Syria and finalizing Turkey’s defense procurements.
On a recent Sunday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan engaged in a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The primary topics of discussion included collaborative efforts to terminate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the need to re-establish stability in Syria. Erdogan expressed Turkey’s support for Trump’s decisive initiatives aimed at achieving “a just and lasting peace.”
Furthermore, Erdogan emphasized the necessity of working together to lift sanctions on Syria, which he believes would aid in restoring order, enhancing the functionality of the new administration, and facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland. Erdogan also voiced Turkey’s expectations from the United States regarding counter-terrorism efforts that acknowledge Turkish interests.
The conflict in Syria has been complicated for Turkey, especially due to the U.S. alliance with the Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey categorizes as a terrorist organization. This U.S. alliance has been sharply criticized by Erdogan, who sees it as a betrayal of NATO commitments.
Erdogan also articulated the need to eliminate CAATSA sanctions, finalize Turkey’s acquisition of F-16 fighter jets, and reinstate its participation in the F-35 program to foster defense cooperation between Turkey and the United States. The imposition of sanctions followed Turkey’s previous purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, leading to its expulsion from the F-35 program in 2019.
In summary, President Erdogan’s dialogue with President Trump highlighted critical issues such as the Ukraine conflict, the stability in Syria, and defense cooperation between Turkey and the U.S. Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s support for peace initiatives and its expectations regarding U.S. actions against terrorism and sanctions. These discussions reflect the ongoing complexities of U.S.-Turkey relations and the challenges posed by their differing approaches to regional conflicts.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
