U.S. President Donald Trump made his first official visit to Turkey to attend the NATO Leaders Summit and hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The visit marks a potential pivot in diplomatic relations between the two allies. The discussions center on restoring military cooperation and resolving long-standing disputes over defense procurement and regional security.

During the visit to the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Trump addressed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, known as CAATSA. These sanctions were first imposed on Turkey in 2020 [2]. Trump said, "We are ready to lift the CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and are looking at the possibility of selling them F-35 fighter jets" [1].

The announcement regarding the sanctions came on July 7, 2026 [1]. This shift in policy could reintegrate Turkey into the advanced stealth fighter program after years of tension over the country's acquisition of Russian military hardware.

President Erdogan welcomed the visit as a means of strengthening the bond between the two nations. "We welcome President Trump and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership," Erdogan said [2].

The bilateral meetings took place alongside the broader NATO Leaders Summit, which was held in Ankara from July 9 to July 11, 2026 [3]. The leaders used the summit to coordinate positions on the war in Ukraine and other regional security issues.

Other international leaders also noted the significance of the gathering. Lee Jae Myung said, "Our meeting in Ankara underscores the importance of cooperation between our nations at this NATO summit" [3].

The talks in Ankara focused on defense cooperation and the necessity of a unified front within the alliance. The U.S. and Turkey aim to synchronize their approaches to stability in the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

“"We are ready to lift the CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and are looking at the possibility of selling them F-35 fighter jets."”

The potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions signals a pragmatic shift in U.S. foreign policy, prioritizing the strategic necessity of Turkey's role in NATO over previous punitive measures. By reopening the door to F-35 sales, the U.S. seeks to secure a more reliable security partner in a volatile region, though such a move may face scrutiny regarding the consistency of U.S. sanctions regimes.