Donald Trump Pledges to Lift Sanctions on Türkiye
President Donald Trump stated there is no obstacle to lifting CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye and reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a positive relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Donald Trump stated that there is no obstacle to lifting sanctions on Türkiye imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Speaking to reporters at the White House, the U.S. president reaffirmed his friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating he intends to always make the Turkish leader happy.
The sanctions were originally imposed in December 2020 against Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries and several officials after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system. These measures restrict financing and export licenses for the Turkish defense industry. Türkiye has argued the purchase was necessary after the United States denied the sale of Patriot missiles.
While Trump previously pledged to remove the sanctions during a July meeting in Ankara and indicated he would consider allowing Türkiye to return to the F-35 fighter jet program, the measures remain in place. The U.S. had removed Türkiye from the F-35 program in 2019, citing security risks and incompatibility with NATO systems. Trump provided no specific timetable for the removal of the current sanctions during his recent remarks.
