Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in the capital Ankara, as the two-day NATO summit kicked off.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes his efforts may have played a role in keeping Turkiye out of the Iran conflict, speaking after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
The two leaders held talks on defense cooperation, Iran, F-35 fighter jets, trade, and regional developments. Following the meeting, Trump also commented on NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Turkiye's role in regional affairs, while Erdogan announced plans to purchase five F-35 fighter jets.
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Trump said he shares a strong friendship with Erdogan, describing the Turkish president as a great leader who is respected around the world. He added that the two leaders enjoy excellent coordination.
The U.S. president said their discussions included trade, military cooperation, the situation involving Iran, and the F-35 fighter jet program, adding that important decisions would be made on these issues.
Trump said relations between the United States and Turkiye remain strong and that he has no concerns about Turkiye acquiring F-35 fighter jets. He also described Turkiye as a strong country with a large military and said it has been one of America's key allies. Trump added that Erdogan's decisions have strengthened Turkiye's defense capabilities and said he had no objection to Turkiye's purchase of Russian air defense systems.
Speaking about Iran, Trump said Turkiye understands Iran well and is fully aware of the region's challenges. He said Turkiye could have joined the conflict with Iran but chose not to, adding that he believes he may have played a role in that decision.
He also said he believes Turkiye shares the U.S. position that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and credited Ankara with helping bring an end to the conflict between Iran and Israel.
Commenting on NATO, Trump said he has been disappointed with the alliance. He said the United States has long protected Europe from Russia but did not receive the same level of support when it needed help. He also claimed the United States did not require assistance from its allies during operations against Iran.
Trump said he had not intended to attend the NATO summit but decided to participate because Turkiye was hosting the event. He added that billions of dollars are spent on NATO to ensure the security of its member states.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump claimed he has helped stop eight wars and expressed confidence that he would also help end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He said he hopes the two countries will reach an agreement soon.
During the meeting, Erdogan announced that Turkiye will purchase five F-35 fighter jets, describing the move as an important step toward strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries.
