Trump to host Erdogan at White House as U.S. weighs lifting F-35 sales ban

President Donald Trump will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Thursday as the administration signals that Washington may lift its ban on sales of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara. The potential reversal comes after years of friction over Turkey’s 2019 decision to buy Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which led to Ankara’s removal from the F-35 program amid U.S. fears that data from the next‑generation jet could be exposed to Moscow. Trump has framed the meeting as an opportunity to advance a broad set of ties, noting in a social media post that the two countries are pursuing multiple trade and military deals, including the large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 package, and continued talks on the F-35 program that officials say could be resolved positively. Erdogan’s visit will be his first White House trip since 2019, a signal of a reset in a relationship that remains nuanced and often contentious. U.S. officials have long cited concerns about Turkey’s human rights record and Ankara’s ties to Russia, complicating a partnership that otherwise seeks greater regional influence and stability in a volatile neighborhood.

Trump’s outreach to Erdogan comes as Turkey positions itself as a pivotal interlocutor in European security and a potential broker across Ukraine, Syria and other flashpoints. The two leaders have built what Trump has called a “very good relationship,” even as relations with Turkey have absorbed a series of political and strategic tensions. Turkish officials say they have already paid about 1.4 billion dollars for the jets, underscoring Ankara’s commitment to reviving a relationship that could unlock a broader arms and defense cooperation agenda. The administration’s approach to Erdogan has shifted from a largely restrained stance during the Biden era to a more engaged posture that treats Turkey as a practical partner on several overlapping security challenges, while continuing to press Ankara on democratic norms and human rights concerns.

Beyond the F-35 question, the visit highlights a broader calculation about NATO alliance coherence, regional stability, and how Washington should balance traditional security priorities with values concerns. Erdogan has sought to position Turkey as a stabilizing force capable of bridging divisions over Ukraine, Syria and tariff tensions that have fed a global trade dispute. Ankara has also framed itself as a credible broker in the Black Sea region, maintaining relations with both Ukraine and Russia even as it pursues its own strategic divergences with Washington. The Turkish leader has been a vocal critic of the conflict in Gaza and has pressed for avenues to ease fighting and humanitarian suffering, even as regional dynamics place him at odds with Israel at times over the war in Gaza and Syria.

Erdogan’s presence in New York for the United Nations General Assembly provided another stage for his push to recalibrate regional diplomacy. He participated in a group meeting hosted by Trump on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering with eight Arab and Muslim leaders to discuss Gaza and broader Middle East issues. In parallel, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the U.N. session, underscoring Washington’s interest in aligning regional actors around shared objectives in Ukraine, Gaza and Syria as the war and its ripple effects continue to unfold. Erdogan has used these forums to critique Israel’s Gaza campaign, reiterating his stance that the current crisis extends beyond counterterrorism and reflects broader humanitarian and political consequences.

Observers note that the F-35 decision, if finalized, would mark a significant step in repairing alliance ties that frayed after Turkey’s S-400 purchase and Ankara’s drift on democratic norms. Supporters say easing the ban could unlock a more integrated approach to defense planning and interoperability with NATO partners, while critics warn that accelerators of arms sales could be perceived as rewarding Erdogan’s broader geopolitical posture at a time when Washington is balancing security interests with human rights concerns. For Washington, the challenge is to translate any near-term agreement into durable, verifiable commitments that advance regional security, preserve alliance cohesion, and maintain a credible stance on democratic governance and human rights in Turkey while keeping channels open for a pragmatic partnership on Ukraine, Syria and broader regional stability.

The meeting comes amid a broader U.S. diplomatic effort to press Turkey to align with Western positions on Ukraine and to manage tensions with Israel in the Gaza context, even as Ankara seeks to expand its own role as a stabilizing actor in the region. If the F-35 talks proceed toward a resolution, Ankara could gain access to advanced capabilities and a more predictable Turkish role within NATO’s broader defense architecture, potentially reshaping the calculus of alliance dynamics at a time when the United States is recalibrating its approach to several coalition partners and adversaries across Europe and the Middle East.