Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Saturday that US sanctions targeting Turkey’s defense sector are softening under President Donald Trump and that steps toward lifting them are progressing rapidly, Agence France-Presse reported.
“We can easily say that there is a softening in CAATSA,” Erdoğan told reporters on his return from a European summit, referring to the 2017 US law known as the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
Washington imposed sanctions on Ankara in 2020 over its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, citing concerns that the system could compromise NATO military assets. The move strained ties between the two NATO allies and led to Turkey’s removal from the US-led F-35 joint strike fighter program.
Erdoğan said he raised the sanctions issue with Trump and the new US ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack.
“With my friend Trump taking office, we have achieved a more open, more constructive and more sincere communication on these issues,” Erdoğan said. “We value every positive step in this direction.”
He said he believes the CAATSA process will be resolved more quickly under the current administration.
“As two great NATO allies, there should be no restrictions or obstacles in the field of defense between us,” he said, adding that the US-Turkey partnership is “of vital importance for the establishment of stability in our region and the world.”
In March Erdoğan and Trump discussed the need to finalize a deal for Turkey to purchase F-16 fighter jets and to be readmitted to the F-35 development program.
Turkey has been pursuing efforts to modernize its air force and is also seeking to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, produced by a consortium involving Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy.