In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump announced that he will meet with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House on 25 September.
The US President revealed that he is working with his Turkish counterpart on numerous trade and military agreements. These include a deal for F-16s, and Trump says he expects a positive outcome from the continued discussions on F-35s.
In his Truth Social post, the US President stated: “I am pleased to welcome the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to the White House on 25 September. We are working with the President on many trade and military agreements, including a large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major deal for F-16s, and the continuation of talks on F-35s, which we expect to conclude with a positive result.”
Erdoğan: “I believe the meeting with Trump will help end the wars in our region”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the following social media post regarding the meeting at the White House announced by the US President:
“During our meeting at the White House with my valued counterpart and friend, US President Donald Trump, we will discuss many issues with our ally, the United States, with whom we have extensive strategic relations, especially in trade, investment, and the defence industry. I believe that our meeting with President Trump will contribute to ending the wars and conflicts in our region, within the framework of our shared vision for global peace, and will further strengthen the cooperation between our countries.”
Athens’s assessment of the Trump-Erdoğan meeting
According to sources, the Greek side believes that meetings between the heads of state of NATO member countries are the norm within the Alliance and should not cause surprise.
They also note that the US President’s reference to the F-35s ahead of Erdoğan’s visit to Washington is limited to the continuation of relevant talks, which have been ongoing since Turkey was expelled from the F-35 programme.
It is noted that there are two provisions in US law that prohibit the sale of US defence material to Turkey. The first concerns the prohibition of F-35 sales as long as Turkey continues to possess S-400s, and the second concerns the CAATSA sanctions on the Turkish defence industry, also due to the possession of S-400s.
While the lifting of sanctions could be decided by executive order, a return to the F-35 programme, which is prohibited by law (as long as Turkey possesses the S-400s), requires the cooperation of Congress to amend the law.
Sources in Washington do not consider this a likely possibility, as in all regular technical discussions, the Turkish side does not seem ready to remove the S-400s from its territory.
Erdoğan’s meeting with Trump Jr. and the 300 Boeing aircraft for the appointment
Last week, Donald Trump Jr. had a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul during an unannounced visit, sources told the Middle East Eye website.
Trump Jr.’s visit was first revealed on Wednesday by Özgür Özel, chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), who claimed that Erdoğan was engaged in “secret negotiations” with the US President’s eldest son on the issue of Gaza.
According to Özel, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Trump’s son: “If you arrange an appointment for me, I promise to order 300 Boeing aircraft from America live on television with Trump, in front of the whole world.”
It is noted that in Donald Trump’s message announcing the meeting at the White House with the Turkish President, he mentioned agreements that also include the purchase of Boeing aircraft by Turkey.
Regarding Erdoğan’s meeting with Trump’s son, a source close to the Turkish president, speaking to Deutsche Welle, confirmed the appointment but described the meeting as a “courtesy visit.”
Despite the fact that Trump Jr. does not hold an official role in his father’s government, he is considered particularly important to the White House. He currently serves as the executive vice president of the Trump Organization and was accompanied by several like-minded businessmen during his visit to Turkey.
Trump Jr. is not unknown in Turkey, as he visited the country in 2016 for a series of investment meetings in Istanbul.
(Information from protothema.gr)
