Türkiye and the U.S. are taking steps to lift sanctions imposed on the Turkish government under the CAATSA act, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Thursday [1].

The move signals a potential shift in diplomatic relations between the two NATO allies, as the removal of these restrictions would ease economic and military pressures on Ankara.

Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump share a "strong political will" to remove the U.S. sanctions imposed on Türkiye [1]. The sanctions were enacted under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act [1].

While the two nations work toward a resolution, Fidan said that Türkiye continues to prioritize its own strategic goals. "Türkiye conducts an independent foreign policy based on its national interests," Fidan said [2].

The diplomatic push comes as both leaders seek to align their interests in a volatile global landscape. The CAATSA sanctions have long served as a point of contention in the bilateral relationship, affecting trade and defense cooperation.

Fidan did not provide a specific timeline for when the sanctions would be fully revoked, but he said that the current political environment is conducive to a resolution [1].

“"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump share a 'strong political will' to remove U.S. sanctions"”

The potential lifting of CAATSA sanctions suggests a pragmatic realignment between the Trump administration and the Erdoğan government. By removing these penalties, the U.S. may be attempting to strengthen its strategic partnership with Türkiye to counter regional adversaries, while Türkiye seeks to restore its military procurement capabilities and economic stability without compromising its independent foreign policy.