Trump, Erdogan Meet at White House: F-35s, Russian Oil, and Gaza Discussed

US President Donald Trump hosted his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the White House on Thursday, in a meeting that had a broad agenda ranging from F-35 sales, Russian oil, to the situation in Gaza.

Background

This meeting marked Erdogan's first visit to the White House since 2019, and came on the heels of a multilateral meeting between Trump, Erdogan, and leaders from several Arab and Muslim-majority countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was dominated by discussions on the war in Gaza, which Erdogan had earlier described at the UN as a genocide.

Key Developments

During the meeting, Trump hinted that the US could lift its hold on sales of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, a move that has raised concerns in Israel, the sole owner of F-35s in the Middle East. The US had previously removed Turkey from its flagship F-35 programme after Turkey bought an air defence system from Russia.

In another major development, the two countries signed an agreement on strategic civil nuclear energy development. This move was hailed as a win for Ankara, which skipped the less hospitable years of the Biden administration in Washington.

Russian Oil and the War in Ukraine

Trump also expressed hope that Erdogan could play an influential role in ending Russia's war in Ukraine by stopping the purchase of Russian oil. He urged Turkey to halt Russian oil purchases, noting that Erdogan could buy oil from a lot of other people. This comes amid Trump's ongoing demands to NATO allies to cease all Russian oil purchases in order to block funding for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war chest.

Reactions and Implications

While Trump has been leaning on his 'friend' Erdogan more, Israeli and Greek lobbying, along with Russian energy, pose significant obstacles. Concerns have also been raised about Erdogan's intentions regarding electoral processes, with Trump referring to his non-reelection in 2020.

Conclusion

Despite the wide-ranging topics and potential roadblocks, both leaders seemed optimistic about the meeting. Trump characterized it as a “good meeting,” albeit without offering further details. As for Erdogan, the meeting has certainly emboldened him, but whether these discussions will translate into tangible action remains to be seen.