Overview

• In their first White House meeting since 2019, Trump publicly urged Turkey to stop buying Russian oil and gas, and Erdoğan made no commitment in response.
• Trump said U.S. defense sanctions on Turkey could be lifted “almost immediately” and signaled prospects for F‑16 and possibly F‑35 sales after Ankara’s 2019 ejection over S‑400 purchases.
• Trump floated Erdoğan as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, saying the Turkish leader could have significant influence on possible peace talks.
• Turkey remains heavily reliant on Russian energy, sourcing 66% of its oil and 41% of its gas from Russia in 2024, and has so far rejected Western sanctions on Moscow.
• The agenda also included a potential Turkish Airlines purchase from Boeing that remains under negotiation, while differences over Gaza and Turkey’s domestic crackdown continue to strain ties.