Erdogan optimistic about future Türkiye-US cooperation Prefers face-to-face meetings over phone diplomacy

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his expectation to hold direct, face-to-face meetings with US President-elect Donald Trump, emphasizing that phone discussions alone will not suffice to advance relations between the two nations.

Erdogan made these comments while speaking with journalists at the end of his visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, Сaliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

He stated, "The development of Türkiye-US relations in the new period cannot be ensured through telephone diplomacy. I hope we will meet Mr Trump either on international platforms or have bilateral talks to better determine how we will move forward. But right now, we need to see how Mr. Trump's cabinet will shape up. Members of his government and my ministers will meet and get to know each other better. We want other processes to start between Türkiye and the United States. Undoubtedly, we always have opportunities, and we want to use them and take steps that are favourable for both countries."

Erdogan also emphasized that "The Trump administration sees the economy as one of the main areas of focus," highlighting Türkiye's strategic location and its young population as key factors that offer significant investment opportunities. He suggested that new avenues for trade and investment could be explored, especially in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and technology.

Earlier, on November 8, Erdogan voiced optimism about strengthening cooperation between Türkiye and the US, despite the ongoing dispute over the F-35 fighter jet program. Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Budapest, Erdogan acknowledged that the F-35 issue remains unresolved, but expressed hope for improved relations moving forward.

"We have invited Trump to Türkiye," Erdogan said. "I hope he will accept our invitation, and in doing so, we can strengthen our cooperation with the US beyond what we have seen in the past. The issue with the F-35 and the ongoing S-400 process are still in play."

Reflecting on the F-35 situation during Trump's presidency, Erdogan remarked, "The money has been given, but you're still not giving us the planes?" He added, "Let's see how we will address these issues in the new period and how we continue moving forward."

Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program marked a significant shift in defence relations between the two countries. The Pentagon cited concerns that Türkiye's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system posed a risk to the F-35’s stealth technology, as it could allow Russia to gain critical insights into its capabilities. As a result, Türkiye was not only excluded from the F-35 program but also subjected to sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in December 2020. These sanctions targeted Türkiye’s defence procurement agency, the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), and several high-ranking officials.

The consequences of these sanctions and Türkiye’s expulsion from the program were significant. Türkiye not only lost access to the F-35 aircraft but also forfeited its role as a key supplier in the program. Turkish companies had anticipated generating up to $12 billion in business from the F-35 project, and the loss of this revenue has had a major impact on Türkiye’s defence industry.

By Tamilla Hasanova