Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced his support for U.S. efforts to bring an end to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, during his first official telephone conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to reports from Turkish media, the conversation between the two leaders revolved around multiple pressing global issues, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in Syria, and bilateral relations between Turkey and the U.S.
During the call, President Erdogan welcomed Trump’s initiative to resolve the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing the need for strong U.S.-Turkey cooperation in addressing global challenges. The Turkish leader reiterated his commitment to diplomacy and peace efforts and expressed hope for a swift resolution to the conflict.
In addition to discussing Ukraine, Erdogan also raised the matter of Turkey’s defense procurement, particularly finalizing the purchase of F-16 fighter jets from the U.S
The conversation also touched on the ongoing Syrian crisis, where President Erdogan urged the United States to lift economic sanctions that are restricting financial aid to Syria’s newly formed interim government. He argued that these sanctions have become a major obstacle for regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, preventing them from providing essential financial assistance to Syria.
Erdogan further pressed the Biden administration (correction from Trump, as Biden is the current U.S. President) to end restrictions imposed on Turkey’s defense industry by the U.S. Congress. These sanctions were originally placed due to Turkey’s acquisition of Russian-made missile defense systems and its 2019 military operations in northern Syria, targeting Kurdish-controlled areas.
Despite these critical discussions, the White House has not yet issued an official statement regarding the details of the high-profile conversation between the two leaders.