Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Ankara next week to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a NATO summit, the Associated Press reported Friday.
According to the report, Trump hinted that his visit to Ankara may include a significant announcement for Erdoğan. When asked if he would arrive in Turkey with a “big bag of gifts”—referring to Ankara’s request to purchase F-110 engines and F-35 fighter jets—he replied: “Yes, I think so. I’ll probably do something that will make him very happy.”
Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defense system. Washington feared that operating the Russian system alongside the stealth fighters would allow Moscow to collect sensitive intelligence on their capabilities. Despite this, the Trump administration is now exploring ways to restore defense cooperation with Ankara, while simultaneously advancing a deal to sell F-110 engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet.
According to AP, the close personal relationship between Trump and Erdoğan is one of the main factors driving the renewed warming between Washington and Ankara. Trump said last week that he would travel to Turkey “out of respect for President Erdoğan,” and has previously called him an “exceptional leader” and a “good friend.”