Warm Ties with Trump Give Turkey an Edge Ahead of NATO Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend next week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Although he has often criticized many European leaders, his close personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seen as a key reason behind his visit. Trump has also hinted that he may announce a significant defense-related decision benefiting Turkey during the trip.

"I would not have gone for most people," Trump said last week. "But Erdogan called me and said, 'Please come. The United States has to be there.' I am going out of respect for President Erdogan."

Analysts say Erdogan's personal rapport with Trump has become increasingly important for the NATO alliance, especially as Trump has repeatedly threatened to reduce the U.S. military presence in Europe and scale back America's role in NATO, raising concerns among allies.

Trump has frequently praised Erdogan, calling him "a hell of a leader." At the same time, he has continued to pressure NATO members to increase their defense spending and has criticized several allies for not supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran.

Possible F-35 Fighter Jet Deal

Trump has suggested that he could make an announcement during his visit that would "make Erdogan very happy," fueling speculation about the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets and F-110 jet engines to Turkey.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia's S-400 missile defense system. Washington argued that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could allow Moscow to gather sensitive information about the aircraft's capabilities.

Vice President JD Vance has since said that the administration is exploring the possibility of selling the jets if Turkey complies with U.S. legal requirements. However, there remains strong bipartisan opposition in Congress, with many lawmakers insisting that Turkey must first give up the Russian missile system.

Turkey is also seeking to buy F-110 jet engines to power its domestically developed KAAN fighter aircraft. The U.S. State Department has already taken steps toward approving more than $700 million worth of engine sales to Ankara.

A Much Warmer Relationship Than Under Biden

Relations between Washington and Ankara were considerably cooler during former President Joe Biden's administration. Biden kept Erdogan at a distance over concerns about democratic backsliding, human rights, and restrictions on press freedom in Turkey.

Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan's government of weakening democratic institutions and using politically motivated investigations and prosecutions against journalists, activists, and opposition figures.

According to Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute, Trump and Erdogan developed a strong personal connection during Trump's first term. In 2024, Erdogan declined an invitation from President Biden to visit Washington, a move that analysts interpreted as a signal that he expected Trump to return to power.

Bilateral Relations Continue to Improve

After returning to the White House for a second term, Trump appointed his longtime ally Tom Barrack as U.S. ambassador to Turkey. Experts say Barrack has played an important role in strengthening ties between the two countries.

Trump and Erdogan have held frequent phone conversations on Syria, Gaza, and broader Middle East issues. Turkey has also joined Trump's "Board of Peace," established to oversee the Gaza ceasefire.

Trump recently claimed that he had asked Erdogan to stay out of the conflict with Iran and that the Turkish leader had complied, although there is no public evidence that Turkey had intended to enter the war.

Following their meeting at last year's NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan highlighted the close communication between the two leaders.

"With my friend Trump, we are opening the door to a new era in Turkish-American relations," Erdogan said. "Our telephone diplomacy has never taken more than 24 hours. Whenever we call, the other side responds within a day."