Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is working to arrange a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in April, sources have informed Bloomberg.
Erdogan views enhancing the strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States as crucial for regional stability, particularly as Turkey aims to play a more prominent role in mediating conflicts ranging from Ukraine to Syria.
The Turkish administration has yet to provide an official comment.
In a phone call with Trump on Sunday, Erdogan urged the U.S. president to lift the sanctions placed on Turkey’s defense industry during Trump’s first term due to the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. Erdogan also requested Turkey’s reintegration into the F-35 fighter jet development program and the completion of a deal for the sale of new F-16 jets.
This outreach comes as Erdogan seeks to strengthen defense and economic ties with the European Union, which is exploring ways to lessen its reliance on the United States.
