Erdoğan to meet Trump at NATO summit to mend relations

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is set to meet with US President Donald Trump during the upcoming NATO summit in an effort to improve relations between the two countries.

According to Bloomberg, the meeting is expected to take place late Tuesday, June 24, in The Hague.

Türkiye’s decision to purchase the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system has strained relations, leading the US to remove Ankara from the F-35 program. Tensions have also been exacerbated by US support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Türkiye considers a threat.

The Bloomberg report suggests that Erdoğan will attempt to persuade Trump to lift the ban by offering assurances that his country will use the Russian missile defense system in a “controlled manner.”

Türkiye argues that acquiring F-35 jets would enable its military to operate seamlessly with other NATO members and strengthen the alliance’s deterrence on its southeastern flank. According to sources, Türkiye is seeking to purchase a total of 40 F-35s and 40 F-16s.

Ankara will also request permission to purchase and assemble GE Aerospace F110 and F404 engines, which are used in US-made fighter jets as well as in Türkiye’s twin-engine Kaan fighter and Hürjet trainer aircraft.

Sources indicated that Erdoğan may also raise the issue of integrating the SDF into the new Syrian army during his discussion with Trump.

Furthermore, the sources added that Erdoğan might ask the US president to restrain Israel and express opposition to its attempts to establish a permanent military presence in Syria.