Erdoğan and Trump to meet at NATO Summit

According to a report by US-based Bloomberg, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump will hold a face-to-face meeting within the framework of the NATO Summit, which begins today in The Hague, Netherlands.

Sources sharing details regarding the meeting reported that Erdoğan intends to use this encounter to “soften the tense relations between the two countries” and “turn a new page.” The meeting is scheduled to take place late at night.

S-400 AND F-35 CRISIS ON THE AGENDA

Among the primary topics the two leaders will address is the crisis surrounding the S-400 air defense system that Turkey purchased from Russia. Washington had removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program due to this move.

According to Bloomberg, Erdoğan plans to provide assurances to Trump during the meeting that the S-400 systems will be “used in a controlled manner.” The goal is to overcome the F-35 embargo and ensure Turkey is included in the project once again.

It is stated that Ankara wishes to purchase a total of 40 F-35 and 40 F-16 fighter jets. Furthermore, Turkey will request approval from the US to purchase General Electric-manufactured F110 and F404 engines, as well as for their assembly, for both the F-35s and its own domestic projects, KAAN and Hürjet.

News Source: 12punto