Overview

• During Erdogan’s first White House visit since 2019, Trump urged Ankara to stop buying Russian oil and gas, framing it as pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
• Trump signaled sanctions on Turkey’s defense sector could be lifted "almost immediately" if talks were productive, while stopping short of announcing any deal.
• The discussions revived F-35 prospects alongside an expected F-16 sale, potential Patriot missile systems, and large Boeing aircraft orders tied to broader trade cooperation.
• Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring Russia’s S-400 system; Ankara maintains it paid $1.4 billion and continues to seek access to the jets.
• No agreements were finalized, and any shift on F-35s or sanctions is likely to draw scrutiny over technology security and Turkey’s close energy ties with Russia.