Ankara–Washington meeting centres on defence, trade, and Middle East issues

Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz met with U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack to review the state of bilateral cooperation, focusing on economic and trade ties as well as ongoing collaboration in the defence industry.

Yılmaz disclosed details of the meeting on his X account, as reported by Caliber.Az.

ABD Türkiye Büyükelçisi Sayın Tom Barrack ile Cumhurbaşkanlığı Külliyesi’nde gerçekleştirdiğimiz görüşmede; ikili ilişkilerimizin daha da güçlendirilmesi ve iş birliğimizin somut alanlarda derinleştirilmesi konularını ele aldık.

Görüşmemizde; ekonomik ve ticari ilişkilerimizin… pic.twitter.com/sHI2yBFZKx

— Cevdet Yılmaz (@_cevdetyilmaz) January 15, 2026

According to Yılmaz, a significant portion of the discussion centred on the potential removal of CAATSA sanctions, an issue Ankara has continued to raise in its engagements with Washington. 

The two officials also exchanged assessments on key regional and international developments, including the situation in Iran and Syria, and reviewed prospects for the second phase of the peace plan concerning the Gaza Strip.

Tom Barrack has served as the United States ambassador to Türkiye since May 2025, following confirmation by the U.S. Senate. In parallel with his ambassadorial duties, President Donald Trump appointed him as the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, a role in which he represents Washington in diplomatic efforts related to the Syrian conflict and broader regional security.

In these capacities, Barrack has maintained regular engagement with senior Turkish officials, including the foreign minister, addressing matters relevant to U.S.–Türkiye relations and wider Middle East diplomacy. Prior to assuming his diplomatic posts, he was a well-known businessman and longtime associate of Trump, but his work in Ankara now centres on the formal implementation and representation of U.S. foreign policy toward Türkiye and Syria.

By Tamilla Hasanova