OPINION: Positive signals but pending outcomes: President Erdogan and President Trump's White House meeting

"The end sought by our foreign policy … is … to preserve and foster an environment in which free societies may exist and flourish. Our policies and actions must be tested by whether they contribute to or detract from achievement of this end." [1]

When the news broke late last week that US President Donald Trump would host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Sept. 25, intense speculation immediately erupted over what issues would be discussed. From trade to policy towards Syria, many issues are currently under negotiation between Ankara and Washington. As a result, the press began closely scrutinizing all interactions between the two sides.

- Initial signs positive

The first message that the public received actually occurred in the Gaza meeting that Trump convened with various Muslim leaders on the Sept. 23. Photographs from the meeting were eye-openers because President Erdogan was seated next to Trump at the head of the table, giving the impression that they were equals [2].

The immediate comparison that comes to mind is the impromptu classroom-style meeting that Trump held with various European leaders in the White House only a month earlier. On that occasion the Europeans were seated in a semicircle around Trump’s Oval Office desk, like students listening to a teacher [3].

The positive atmosphere continued on Thursday as the presidents greeted each other warmly at the White House entrance. The customary Oval Office press conference went considerably longer than expected while Trump reiterated his regard for President Erdogan several times. Upon President Erdogan's exit from the White House, he and President Trump continued to chat for several moments. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan looked pleased.

Because no question-and-answer session with the press followed the conclusion of the discussions, we will have to wait for concrete developments. But US Ambassador to Türkiye Thomas Barrack did provide comments to Turkish journalists directly afterwards that indicated highly positive developments. He termed the discussions "epic," "brilliant," and "historic." [4]

- Mutual issues

Several important statements were made by President Trump in the Oval Office. Probably the most important was his assertion that the CAATSA sanctions against Türkiye could be lifted "almost immediately" depending on what happened in the discussions [5]. That's an eyebrow-raiser because the CAATSA sanctions are imposed by law and require congressional approval for removal. Lifting the CAATSA sanctions would also make Türkiye’s access to the F-35 program possible. Idaho Senator Jim Risch, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has bragged about his role in preventing Türkiye’s access to the F-35 program, so Risch is now under scrutiny.

Barrack’s comments later reinforced expectations concerning the F-35s. He told Turkish journalists that his earlier statement, that the F-35 situation would be resolved before the end of the year, would not be proven wrong [6].

The most immediate and concrete results were achieved on topics related to bilateral trade. Energy trade also seemed to be a focus as several agreements were made entailing Türkiye's purchases of US energy products. Türkiye signed a long-term agreement to purchase liquified natural gas (LNG) from the US as well as an agreement on nuclear energy cooperation [7]. Later, Secretary of State Rubio announced that oil would begin flowing through the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline again [8]. Another agreement to purchase 225 passenger jets from Boeing was reportedly inked [9].

- Regional issues

Achievements on issues in Türkiye's region were less clear. President Trump made clear his desire for Türkiye to discontinue purchases of Russian oil, but no developments on that issue occurred other than the energy agreements.

Ambassador Barrack stated that the SDF/PKK would renew its commitment to integrating with the Syrian government’s military.

And in regard to Gaza, Trump reiterated comments that he had made in previous days, but declined to comment on President Erdogan's stance on the issue. He also stated, in response to one question, that an agreement on Gaza could be reached "today," but no later developments emerged. Because Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sept. 29, probably no announcements will be made until afterwards.

Clearly, in regard to issues in Türkiye's region, we will have to wait for further developments in the coming days before we can judge more precisely as to what was achieved during these meetings.

- Establishing a new norm

In reality, this is how the relationship should have been for the past 75 years. Türkiye has been a NATO member since 1952 and played a key role during the Cold War as a state bordering the USSR's southern flank. But Türkiye always received treatment different from that accorded to other NATO members. Disturbing incidents in Türkiye-US relations, such as the 1964 Johnson Letter and the 1970s arms embargo, underlined that uneasy situation.

So the irony is that President Donald Trump is the person who finally displays the respect towards Türkiye and its democratically elected leaders that should have been the norm for the past seven decades. Hopefully, and in concurrence with the guidance articulated by late Secretary of State Dean Acheson half a century ago, the developments in the past three days will help to "preserve and foster an environment in which free societies may exist and flourish."

[1] Dean Acheson, “This Vast External Realm,” p. 137.

[2] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/gaza-meeting-with-attendance-of-us-trump-turkish-president-erdogan-concludes/3696961

[3] https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341289.shtml

[4] https://x.com/yunuspaksoy/status/1971279966697639995

[5] https://x.com/AACanli/status/1971239020861542415

[6] https://www.cnnturk.com/dunya/son-dakika-haberi-tom-barrack-cnn-turkte-f-35-sorunu-cozulecek-2340043

[7] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/turkiye-us-sign-deal-to-deepen-partnership-in-nuclear-energy-says-turkish-energy-minister/3699356

[8] https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1971287773974806742

[9] https://www.dunya.com/sirketler/thy-boeingden-225-ucak-icin-anlasmaya-vardi-haberi-795706

*Opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Anadolu's editorial policy.