Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised his country would do its part regarding the reopening of the Halki Theological School, during his meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump. He also said that the issues of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets would be raised in the talks to follow.
“We will do what is ours to do,” the Turkish president said, among other things, in reference to the issue of the Halki School, stressing that he would discuss the matter with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
“I will discuss the issue with Bartholomew when I return,” Erdogan told journalists shortly before the two presidents’ one-on-one meeting began. In response Trump stated to his Turkish counterpart that, “the Greek Orthodox Church was here (at the White House) and they would really like to have some help.”
The Turkish president also referred to the issue of the F-35s, from the programme of which Turkey was expelled due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, as well as the procurement of new F-16s and the modernisation of the existing older fleet of Turkish F-16 fighter jets.
“I believe today we will have the opportunity to discuss thoroughly the issue of the F-35s and F-16s, as well as the matter of Halkbank,” the Turkish state bank facing legal proceedings in the US, accused of violating sanctions against Iran.
Asked whether he intends to agree to the sale of F-35s to Turkey, Donald Trump replied: “I think he will manage to buy whatever he wants to buy.” He added that Erdogan “needs certain things and we need certain things and we will come to a conclusion. You will know by the end of the day.”
The US president also stated, responding again to a related question, that if the meeting with Mr Erdogan is good “we can immediately lift” the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions.
Welcoming Erdogan to the Oval Office, Trump described his counterpart as a “tough man,” who “does a good job in his country,” adding: “We both have very good relations. Both trade and war play a very important role in our relations.”
He emphasised, however, that he would like to see Turkey stop purchasing Russian oil. Turkey, along with Hungary and Slovakia, is among the main buyers of Russian oil. “I would like him to stop buying oil from Russia, as long as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine,” Trump said to Erdogan.
Trump also noted that Erdogan is “highly respected” both by Russian President Vladimir Putin and by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and “could exert great influence if he wanted. At present, he maintains a very neutral stance.” “The best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,” he added.
Referring to developments in Syria, an issue that Ankara strongly raises — calling for the integration of the US-backed Kurdish forces into the Syrian army and the subordination of the de facto autonomous Kurdish administration to the central government in Damascus — Trump spoke of Erdogan’s success in Syria, saying that “he certainly has a say,” while also clarifying that similar requests had been made by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “They told me to lift the sanctions (on Syria) and I did. I wanted to give them the chance to breathe, but President Erdogan is one of the people responsible here,” he noted.
Erdogan’s visit to the White House is his first since 2019, during Donald Trump’s previous presidential term, while he had not received an invitation under Joe Biden’s presidency.
