Erdogan: US-Türkiye defence ties improving as CAATSA sanctions loosen

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the US sanctions imposed on Ankara under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) are being eased, and expressed optimism that the issue between the two countries could be resolved swiftly.

Speaking to reporters after returning from Albania, Erdogan said, “We can safely say that CAATSA sanctions are being eased. We have discussed and talked about these issues with US President Donald Trump and the newly appointed US ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack. I think we will go through this process with CAATSA much faster.”

The Turkish leader emphasised the importance of removing barriers between the two NATO allies, stating, “There should be no restrictions or obstacles between us, two big allies and NATO members, in the field of defence industry.”

Erdogan further explained that Türkiye’s primary goal was “removing all obstacles that are contrary to the spirit of the Turkey-US strategic partnership.”

He highlighted the improved nature of the dialogue since President Trump took office: “Every positive step in this direction is valuable for us. Since my friend Trump came to power, we have reached a more open, more constructive and more sincere level of dialogue on these issues. We have common interests with the United States, from defence to economic relations, from regional security to global issues. We will continue our cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and understanding.”

The US imposed sanctions on Türkiye on December 14, 2020, in response to Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system.

These sanctions were enacted under Section 231 of CAATSA and targeted Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı, SSB) along with certain key officials. SSB is a government body affiliated with the Turkish Presidency responsible for managing the country’s defence industry and related procurement activities.

By Tamilla Hasanova