During a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a review of the sanctions policy imposed by Washington against the Turkish defense industry in 2020, as well as for Ankara to be reinstated in the F-35 fighter jet production program, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the conversation. 

Erdogan expressed hope that the new US administration, which takes office in January 2025, will adopt an approach that takes into account Turkey's national security interests. One of the key topics of discussion was the completion of the deal to supply Turkey with F-16 fighter jets, which the countries agreed on back in 2023, but whose implementation has been delayed due to political differences. The Turkish leader also stressed the importance of lifting the sanctions imposed under the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions) Act, which affected the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) and a number of high-ranking officials, including the head of the department, Ismail Demir. 

The sanctions were imposed by the Trump administration in 2020 in response to Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems, which raised concerns in Washington about the compatibility of the systems with NATO weapons and potential threats to the alliance’s security. As a result, Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program, under which Ankara was to receive more than 100 fighter jets and participate in the production of components. Erdogan, during a conversation with Trump, emphasized the need to restore cooperation in this area, emphasizing that Türkiye, as a NATO member, plays a key role in ensuring regional security. 

In addition, the Turkish president expressed support for Trump's efforts to mediate the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. According to Reuters, Erdogan praised the US administration's initiatives aimed at achieving a ceasefire and confirmed Ankara's readiness to continue playing the role of mediator. Recall that Turkey previously acted as the organizer of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and was also a key participant in the "grain deal" that ensured the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea until its suspension in July 2023. 

The F-16 issue remains one of the most contentious in US-Turkish relations. In October 2023, the Biden administration approved the sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets and upgrades to 79 existing aircraft to Turkey for $23 billion, but the deal has been repeatedly delayed due to resistance in the US Congress. Some US lawmakers, including Senator Bob Menendez, opposed the sale, citing Turkey’s human rights record and its policies in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly towards Greece. However, after Menendez resigned as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2024 amid corruption allegations, the chances of the deal moving forward have increased significantly.