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Türkiye’s potential reintegration into the F-35 program would represent a significant shift in bilateral defence cooperation.
This visit could mark a turning point toward restoring and expanding military and trade ties between the two nations (Reuters Photo)
US President Donald Trump has announced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will soon visit the White House, marking a significant moment in US-Türkiye relations. In a post on X, Trump expressed his appreciation for the strong friendship he shares with Erdoğan, emphasising their good personal relationship.
This upcoming meeting arrives as both countries are engaged in finalising several key defence agreements. Central to their talks are ongoing negotiations regarding Türkiye’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet program, alongside plans for a substantial Boeing aircraft purchase. Trump highlighted these developments in his post, stating that the US and Türkiye are working on numerous trade and military deals, “including the large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks.”
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Türkiye’s potential reintegration into the F-35 program would represent a significant shift in bilateral defence cooperation, potentially signalling broader improvements in their strategic partnership. The country was removed from the F-35 stealth fighter initiative in 2019 after acquiring Russian S-400 missile defence systems, a move that severely strained relations between the NATO allies.
The US had raised security concerns, arguing that the Russian technology posed risks to the advanced fighter jets, complicating defence collaboration. This visit could mark a turning point toward restoring and expanding military and trade ties between the two nations.
Amid regional security challenges and evolving defence partnerships, the talks will focus on Türkiye’s strategic role as a NATO member bridging Europe and Asia.
The Turkish President last met with the US President on June 24 this year during a NATO summit. At the meeting, he praised the Iran-Israel ceasefire and called for “close dialogue” to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also stressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between Turkey and the US to help end both the war in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
September 20, 2025, 00:17 IST
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