Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump, discussing efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and restore stability in Syria, Erdogan's office announced Sunday.
According to the statement, Erdogan urged Trump to finalize the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and reinstate Ankara in the F-35 program.
Turkey's participation in the F-35 project was canceled in 2019 following its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. Amid tensions between the U.S. and its allies, countries such as Portugal and Canada have announced a reassessment of their aircraft procurement from the U.S., exploring alternative options. Notably, Turkey recently unveiled the KAAN fighter jet, developed by its advanced military industries.
On the Ukraine issue, Turkey is positioning itself both as a potential mediator in negotiations and as a party willing to deploy military forces to oversee the implementation of an agreement, something Ankara has reportedly expressed readiness to do. Another key issue is developments in Syria, where Turkey emerged as the main winner following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, with Turkish-backed rebels rising to power. Just last week, with open U.S. support, the Kurdish autonomous forces signed an agreement with Syria's new government in Damascus, a move seen as a victory for President Mohammad al-Sharaa in consolidating central authority in the country.
