US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt oil purchases from Russia, linking the appeal to Ankara’s bid for advanced American fighter jets during a closely watched White House meeting.
The visit marked Erdogan’s first official trip to Washington since 2019, during Trump’s initial term.
Speaking alongside Erdogan in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the need for Turkey, a NATO ally, to exert influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin and support efforts to end Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “I’d like to have him stop buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues this rampage,” Trump told reporters. He added that Erdogan, whom he described as “very respected” by both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, could wield significant influence if he chose to take a firmer stance.
The leaders’ discussions centered on Ankara’s longstanding interest in acquiring F-35 stealth fighter jets, a deal that stalled after Turkey purchased Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system. That decision led to sanctions on Turkey’s defense sector and its removal from the US-led F-35 program, amid concerns that the Russian system could expose NATO’s security capabilities. Trump suggested those sanctions could be lifted “almost immediately” if their meeting produced positive results.
Erdogan also expressed interest in purchasing more of the older F-16 aircraft, with Trump saying: “He wants the F-35 and he’s wanted that, and we’re talking about that very seriously.” He noted that any updates on the negotiations would be revealed “by the end of the day.”
Trump, wearing a lapel pin in the shape of a golden fighter jet, signaled a willingness to reconcile with Erdogan despite tensions over Ankara’s foreign policy, particularly its disputes with US ally Israel regarding Gaza and Syria. “This is a guy who’s highly opinionated. Usually, I don’t like opinionated people, but I always like this one, but he’s a tough one,” Trump said. He went further, joking about elections, adding: “‘He knows about rigged elections better than anybody,’” while recalling that the two leaders had remained close even during Trump’s years out of office, which he attributed to what he called a “rigged election.”
The meeting underscored the complex ties between Washington and Ankara. While Turkey remains a vital NATO partner, its engagement with Moscow, particularly in defense and energy, has drawn scrutiny from Western allies. Trump’s comments made clear that curbing Russian oil imports is now a key US priority in shaping the future of US-Turkey relations.
What you should know
President Trump used Erdogan’s Washington visit to push Ankara away from Russian energy while offering the prospect of renewed defense cooperation.
By tying the lifting of sanctions and potential fighter jet sales to Turkey’s position on Russia, Trump highlighted the delicate mix of diplomacy, military partnership, and energy politics shaping US-Turkey relations in 2025.
