U.S. President Donald Trump will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House on Sept. 25, shortly after both leaders attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Their talks are expected to focus on defense and trade, including Boeing aircraft sales, a major F-16 package, and the potential revival of discussions on the suspended F-35 program.
Trump announced the visit on Truth Social, saying: "We are working on many trade and military deals with President Erdoğan, including a large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 deal, and continued discussions on the F-35 program, which we expect to conclude positively."
Erdoğan confirmed the meeting on X, stating the agenda would include "trade, investment, and the defense industry," and expressed hope the talks would "help end conflicts in our region and further strengthen cooperation between our countries."
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring Russian-made S-400 missile systems, triggering U.S. sanctions. Any return to the program faces significant resistance in Congress, where skepticism toward Ankara remains strong and bipartisan.
HOW MANY AIRCRAFT WILL TURKEY BUY?
Before the meeting was announced, Turkey’s main opposition leader, CHP Chair Özgür Özel, said that Erdoğan secured the White House visit by promising to buy 300 Boeing aircraft.
Reiterating that Erdoğan met with Donald J. Trump Jr. at the presidential Dolmabahçe office in Istanbul on Sept. secretly, Özel said: "Erdoğan told Trump’s son, ‘If you arrange a meeting for me, I will promise--live on air and in front of the whole world--to buy 300 Boeing planes from the U.S.’ They are trying to secure the meeting on that basis."
This visit will be Erdoğan’s first White House meeting during Trump’s second term. In his first presidency, Trump hosted Erdoğan twice--in 2017 and 2019. Erdoğan has also expressed interest in hosting Trump in Ankara, a visit expected to occur in 2026, when Turkey will host the NATO Summit.
