President Donald Trump, known for publicly criticizing many European leaders, has expressed strong admiration for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey. Trump indicated he is attending the summit largely out of respect for Erdogan, with whom he has maintained a close personal relationship.
This personal rapport has helped Erdogan secure Trump's presence, potentially averting disarray within the alliance caused by the U.S. president's potential absence. Trump has frequently threatened to reduce U.S. involvement in NATO and has openly criticized allies over defense spending and other issues. His engagement with Erdogan stands in contrast to the Biden administration's more distant approach to the Turkish president, citing democratic backsliding and human rights concerns in Turkey.
Sources suggest Trump may use the visit to announce a significant defense-related development, possibly related to the sale of F-35 fighter jets or F-110 jet engines. Turkey was previously barred from the F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, a move that raised concerns among U.S. officials about potential intelligence leaks to Moscow. Despite bipartisan opposition in Congress to selling F-35s to Turkey while it possesses the Russian systems, the State Department has taken steps to advance sales of F-110 jet engines, which would power Turkey's domestically produced KAAN fighter jets. These sales have faced criticism from lawmakers who argue the administration has not adequately justified the decisions or briefed them on the implications.
Trump's affinity for leaders like Erdogan, who has held power for over a decade, is consistent with a pattern of his foreign policy approach. Analysts note that Erdogan has effectively leveraged his relationship with Trump, contrasting with his decision not to visit the U.S. during the Biden administration. The U.S. Justice Department also recently dropped a significant case against Turkey's state-owned Halkbank, which had been accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.
The relationship between the U.S. and Turkey has seen other signs of thawing, including diplomatic engagements on regional issues like Syria and Gaza. Trump has previously stated that he asked Erdogan to refrain from intervening in the conflict involving Iran, a request he claimed Erdogan adhered to.
During his first term, Trump appointed a close associate as ambassador to Turkey, who played a role in facilitating communication. Erdogan has previously described their relationship as one that could usher in a new era in Turkish-American relations, highlighting the speed of their direct communication.