Turkish President Erdogan spoke with U.S. President Trump about ending the Ukraine conflict and stabilizing Syria. Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to a peaceful resolution and urged the U.S. to lift sanctions on Syria and reconsider its stance on Kurdish groups. He also called for the finalization of Turkey’s F-16 procurement amid ongoing defense cooperation discussions.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan communicated with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and stability efforts in Syria. Erdogan expressed Turkey’s support for Trump’s decisive initiatives aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, asserting Turkey’s commitment to seeking a fair and lasting peace.
He emphasized the importance of collaborating on lifting sanctions in Syria to facilitate stability and normalize the government, aiding refugees in returning home. Erdogan also urged the U.S. to consider Turkey’s interests in the fight against terrorism, particularly concerning the U.S. alliance with the Syrian Kurdish militia, which Turkey deems a terrorist organization.
Erdogan called for the termination of CAATSA sanctions, completion of Turkey’s F-16 procurement, and re-engagement in the F-35 program to enhance defense collaboration between Turkey and the U.S. Past transactions involving Russian S-400 systems had resulted in U.S. sanctions and Turkey’s ejection from the F-35 initiative in 2019.
Erdogan’s discussions with Trump highlight Turkey’s active role in seeking peace in Ukraine and stability in Syria. The conversation also brought attention to defense cooperation, underlining the need for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and a resolution regarding Turkey’s military procurement challenges. The ongoing alliance with Kurdish forces in Syria remains a critical point of contention in U.S.-Turkey relations.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
