Erdoğan and Trump Hold Talks, Discuss Ukraine, Syria

On March 16, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, Orda reports, citing Reuters.

Their discussion focused on key international issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, Syria, and bilateral defense cooperation.

During the call, Erdoğan expressed support for Trump’s efforts to end the conflict, emphasizing that Türkiye backs U.S. initiatives to resolve the war and hopes for a positive outcome under Trump's leadership.

Syria and Sanctions

Erdoğan also highlighted the need to lift sanctions on Syria, stressing that this step would help restore stability, support the new administration, and facilitate normalization efforts.

The importance of jointly contributing to the lifting of sanctions on Syria to restore stability, make the new administration functional, and support normalization,  the statement read, adding that this would allow Syrian refugees to return to their homeland.

The Turkish president also raised the issue of U.S. sanctions under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) and called for steps to finalize Türkiye’s F-16 procurement and reinstate its participation in the F-35 program.

It is necessary to end CAATSA sanctions, finalize Ankara's F-16 procurement process, and reestablish Türkiye’s role in the F-35 program in order to develop defense industry cooperation between Türkiye and the United States, Erdoğan stated.

Türkiye was removed from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 and sanctioned under CAATSA following its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, a move that strained relations between Ankara and Washington.

Türkiye’s Mediator Role

Türkiye has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year, by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both Russia and Ukraine while reaffirming its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.