Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan chaired high-level delegation talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Tuesday, as part of a series of bilateral meetings during the 36th NATO Summit.

The closed-door session followed one-on-one discussions between the two leaders earlier in the day. It brought together senior officials from both nations to address a range of strategic, defense, and economic issues amid ongoing regional tensions and alliance priorities.

The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director İbrahim Kalın, and other senior government officials.

According to reports from the meeting, President Trump announced that the U.S. would lift CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye and indicated openness to resuming sales of F-35 fighter jets, despite previous restrictions linked to Türkiye’s purchase of Russian S-400 systems. These steps signal a potential thaw in defense cooperation between the two NATO allies.

Discussions also touched on the Russia-Ukraine war, with both leaders expressing interest in reaching a resolution. Broader NATO concerns, including defense spending, burden-sharing among allies, and transatlantic security, formed part of the context. Trump reportedly reiterated frustrations with some NATO partners and floated ideas such as greater U.S. control over Greenland while critiquing limited allied support in other conflicts.

The summit, hosted by Türkiye at the Presidential Complex, includes a NATO Defence Industry Forum showcasing Turkish capabilities in drones and other advanced weaponry. It aims to strengthen the alliance’s military industrial capacity and review progress since the previous summit.

U.S.-Türkiye relations have long involved a mix of cooperation and friction, including issues related to Syria, counterterrorism, energy, and Türkiye’s regional role. Analysts note that the meeting provides an opportunity for both leaders to advance shared interests while managing differences. Erdoğan has positioned Türkiye as an indispensable ally in regional security, leveraging the summit to highlight the country’s growing defense industry and geopolitical influence.

The talks unfolded with formal ceremonies, including Trump’s arrival greeted by Erdoğan, underscoring the personal rapport between the two presidents that has characterized past interactions.

Further outcomes from the broader NATO Summit are expected over the coming days, with leaders focusing on collective defense, innovation in military production, and addressing global challenges. This bilateral engagement sets an important tone for transatlantic discussions in Ankara. (ILKHA)