The Turkish president made a new call for its reintegration into the program, arguing, according to Bloomberg, that this would contribute positively to deepening relations with and strengthening its security.
As reported by the agency, Tayyip Erdogan raised this issue personally with Trump during their meeting at the White House in September, while he argued that the decision to expel Turkey from the program due to the purchase of the S-400 from Russia was unfair.
According to Erdogan: “With Trump’s return to power, an opportunity has emerged to put Turkey-US relations back on a more reasonable and constructive footing. Turkey’s receipt of the F-35s it has already paid for, as well as its rejoining the program, are important and necessary for improving relations with the US and for NATO’s defense.”
S-400 missiles
Turkey is seeking to return the S-400 anti-aircraft systems it bought from Russia, Bloomberg reported last month. Erdogan raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Turkmenistan, a sign of his bid to restore defense ties with the US, which he described as a “central pillar” of bilateral ties.
Tom Barak, the US ambassador to Turkey and a close Trump ally, said late last year that Ankara was nearing a decision to give away the S-400s, estimating that the issue could be resolved within four to six months.
At the same time, Turkey is seeking to buy F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from the US, although talks over pricing are ongoing. Erdogan said Ankara expects terms consistent with the spirit of the NATO alliance, citing Turkey’s purchase of Eurofighter jets as an example.
Another thorn in American-Turkish relations is the case of the state-owned bank Türkiye Halk Bankası AŞ. The bank was accused in 2019 of participating in a scheme to circumvent sanctions against Iran and faces charges of fraud, money laundering and sanctions violation.
Erdogan said Turkey considers the charges baseless and is in consultations to protect the bank from “unjust punishments”.
“Our hope is to reach a fair result, fully in accordance with the law,” he said.
American LNG
Turkey is the third-largest buyer of Russian crude and came under pressure from the Trump administration in September to curb imports from Moscow. Turkish refiners have started to reduce their purchases, following US sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil producers late last year.
In an effort to respond to US concerns, Ankara is reshaping its gas strategy, emphasizing a portfolio based on US LNG, while also pursuing investments in US oil and gas fields.
“We have significantly increased LNG supplies, particularly from the United States,” which now hold a “prominent position” in Turkey’s supply chain, Erdogan said.
“Turkey’s position is absolutely clear: we act based on our national interest and our energy security. As a country heavily dependent on hydrocarbon imports, we must take a careful and balanced approach to any issue that may affect our energy security,” he stressed.
Despite this, Russia still accounts for 61% of Turkey’s oil purchases and 40% of its gas supplies, according to the most recent official Turkish figures — a decades-old dominance that will likely take years to curtail.
Regional conflicts
Balancing relations with Russia and ties with NATO allies is a difficult equation for Ankara, especially after the start of war in Ukraine in 2022. Erdogan has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow, but has restricted the passage of Russian warships through the Bosphorus Strait and sent weapons to Kiev.
By avoiding direct involvement in the war, Turkey remains a likely venue for future peace talks and could help monitor an eventual truce, Erdogan said.
“Turkey is the only actor that can talk directly with both Putin and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky,” he said. “Our door remains open to everyone. I have conveyed this will clearly and repeatedly to both leaders.”
In the Middle East, Turkey has played a key role in brokering the October truce in the war between Hamas and Israel.
Erdogan, a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the conduct of the war in Gaza, said a proposed International Stabilization Force in the region would hardly gain legitimacy without Turkey’s participation.
“We are in a key position for such a mission because of our deep historical ties with the Palestinian side, the security and diplomatic channels we have maintained in the past with Israel, as well as our regional influence as a NATO member state,” he said. “Our political will is clear, we are ready to take every responsibility for a lasting peace in Gaza.”
