US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Washington will remove sanctions against Türkiye, declaring that the United States does not wish to penalize allied nations. Speaking alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the decision reflects his commitment to maintaining robust ties with strategic partners.
"We’re going to be taking the sanctions off ... We don’t want to sanction friends," Trump told reporters, adding that he is coordinating with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to finalize the move. The announcement marks a significant shift in bilateral economic policy.
Defense cooperation
Regarding the suspended F-35 fighter jet program, Trump indicated he would "certainly consider" restoring sales to Ankara, characterizing Türkiye as "much more loyal than other countries." He suggested previous restrictions on military hardware might be revisited amid warming ties.
The US president also dismissed concerns about Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, asserting the bilateral relationship is "better, probably than it's ever been." The leaders met as NATO members gathered in the Turkish capital.