The future of Syria and stability in the Middle East. But also, seal with military and commerce agreements, as well as an approach between the two governments after the distance imposed during the mandate of Joe Biden. With these matters on the table, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the United States, Donald Trump, this Thursday at the White House have met. Two leaders who share a similar political history of promotion despite the rejection of the intellectual elites of their countries, who despise the liberal system and who are convinced that history, with capital letters, keeps them a privileged place.
“When I was in exile, Trump said in the Oval Office, referring to the years between his first and second presidency.” I have great respect for this man. “” We maintain a great trade with Turkey and we will continue with the ammunition trade. They want to buy F-16, F-35 and other weapons. We will talk to them about that, ”Trump added, who insisted that Turkey has to stop buying oil from Russia as a pressure gun to end the Ukraine War. To the question of a journalist, the president of the United States said:“ We are going to talk about Patriot, and about F-35. And I think [Erdogan] You will succeed by buying those things that you have interest in buying. ”
When it was Erdogan’s turn, he insisted on the priority of discussing “the sale of those fighters.” In an interview with Fox News this week, the Turkish leader complained that Biden excluded him from the F-35 program after the purchase of Ankara from Batteries Antidefense to Russia. “I don’t think it’s typical of a strategic association [con Estados Unidos]and I don’t think it’s the right path, ”said Erdogan.
The Turk’s visit, which was received at the White House at about 11:30 (Washington time), is the first one to Washington in more than four years. And it arrives just four days before Benjamín Netanyahu, next Monday. And two days after the two leaders who are in front of the Oval Office today participated in a meeting between the US president and leaders from Arab and Muslim countries on the banks of the United Nations General Assembly, last Tuesday. A meeting that was scheduled to deal with Gaza and whose content the few details that are known have been administered with droppers.
End to war
Erdogan has described that meeting as “fruitful” to end the war. Trump did not want to make statements to the media after his conclusion, although on his arrival that event had described as “the most important” of his United Nations conversations. His envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has been a bit more locuazo: this Wednesday, in a forum in New York, he indicated that during the meeting the US delegation presented its 21 -point plan for Gaza.
“I think it resolves the Israeli concerns and, also, those of the rest of the residents of the region,” said Trump’s personal representative. Witkoff dodged, however, confirm if, as the digital has published Politicothe US president promised in the meeting that, one of the fears of the rest of the countries in the area. But he did notice that he expects advances in the immediate future: “We have hope and, I dare to say, even confidence that in the next few days we can announce some kind of progress.”
The Arab governments of the region are frustrated by what they consider the lack of support of the Trump administration to the Palestinians in Gaza, while granting Carta Blanca to Israel in a war that has already cost the lives of about 70,000 Palestinians. In his UN, just a few hours before his encounter with Arab leaders, the American completely ruled out any recognition of a Palestinian state, although. As he pointed out, recognizing the Palestinian state would only serve to give Hamas a “reward” for his “horrible atrocities.” The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, pointed to his part that this step “is a right, not a reward” for the Palestinians.
The two leaders also planned to address the situation in Syria, where the vision of Ankara and Washington has gone in increasing alignment in favor of the new leader Ahmed al Sharaa, one of the stars in this week of leaders in the UN General Assembly and who has participated in a whole series of seminars and conferences in some of the most exclusive New York forums. Türkiye aspires to increase its influence and its military footprint in Syria, at the same time that the United States wants the withdrawal of the forces that it has maintained there to fight against the return of the Islamic army.
On the agenda of the meeting was also the war of Ukraine and the role that Türkiye, as a member of NATO, could play in La Paz.
But, above all, the encounter in the Oval Office represents a reconciliation and a victory for an Erdogan none in the halls of power in Washington during the Biden administration. The Turkish leader had as priorities relaunch economic and commercial ties. And start military collaboration agreements, something Trump had already pointed out that he was willing to grant to announce the visit last week.
Türkiye was also expected to announce the purchase of Boeing aircraft for its fleet, and that Washington confirms that the sale of US F-35 resumes.
As a gesture to confirm the thaw, on Monday Türkiye announced the end of tariffs that had imposed as retaliation against the United States in 2018 for goods that cover from cars to fruit.
