Good business with Trump!..

The country has practically turned into a scene of fire. We have reached a point where we can no longer talk about, write about, or even follow very important issues.

Do you remember; at the G7 Leaders' Summit held in France on June 15-17, Trump's remark, “I am the boss,” left its mark, and this event even entered the agenda of MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli.

After emphasizing that in foreign policy, a summit photo sometimes tells more than pages of reports, Bahçeli stated that Trump's remark was not “a casually spoken sentence,” but a cautionary confession showing the state of Europe and the true nature of transatlantic relations, and then listed Europe's hostilities toward Turkey.

The Photo at the UN

There was the UN General Assembly this past September 20-23. Colonial governor Tom Barrack announced that a meeting would take place between Trump and Erdoğan. However, this meeting did not happen; Erdoğan was only invited to the dinner Trump hosted in honor of the leaders and the meeting Trump held with Gulf countries regarding Iran.

The image from that meeting on Iran told as much as Trump's attitude at the G7. Again, he arrived last. All leaders stood up “respectfully.” While the Iraqi Prime Minister had his jacket unbuttoned and the Emir of Qatar had his hand in his pocket while shaking hands with Trump, it was noted that Erdoğan buttoned his jacket.

The US side keeps saying at every opportunity that the Trump-Erdoğan relationship is very good and that they see Turkey as a very important partner; colonial governor Barrack explained why a bilateral meeting was not held at the UN Summit as follows:

“In the midst of this confusion and sensitivity in the region, they are already talking frequently. So there were not many new topics to address.”

Yet, as he himself stated, there were many issues, primarily the “adversary” sanctions, namely CAATSA, imposed by the US on Turkey, as well as the F-35 and S-400 issues. Barrack brushed these off well too; “Congress is working,” “it takes time”!..

3 Months Have Passed Since the “Victory” Headlines

Let us recall the NATO Summit in July, which crowned the “successes” of Turkey and Erdoğan, and which Trump attended solely for Erdoğan's sake.

It was announced 10 days before Trump came to Ankara that the $700 million engine sale for KAAN had been notified to Congress.

We have entered October. What happened, how many engines arrived?!

What about what was discussed and the headlines made when Trump came?

Erdoğan said, “Mr. Trump always stands behind his word. I believe a favorable decision will come out of this summit regarding the F-35.”

Trump, after praising him by saying, “We are very close friends. President Erdoğan is doing a very good job... We have had a very good relationship from the beginning. We have very good chemistry... Turkey has a very good president,” said regarding the F-35, “This is definitely a topic we are talking about and thinking about. The F-35 is by far the best plane in the world right now. We will think about it.” While making the statement regarding CAATSA, “We will cancel the sanctions, okay?” he did not forget to explain how he saved Pastor Brunson.

These words excited our media, and headlines like these were made:

“Sanctions are being lifted. Good signal on F-35... Turkey got what it wanted... The path to return to the F-35 after 7 years has opened... Sanctions will be lifted, planes and engines will be given. New era summit... Historic summit in Ankara. New era with the US. CAATSA is being lifted... Turkey's strong stance on the field and at the table was effective in the US lifting the sanctions. CAATSA lifted, F-35 is next... He praised Turkey and gave the good news... Turkey pressured and got what it wanted.”

Again, in those days, our media gave the good news that the S-400s, considered the biggest obstacle in front of the F-35, would be sold to a third country, and that the US and Russia did not object to this.

One month after the NATO Summit, Erdoğan also said regarding the F-35, “I received a promise from Trump, I expect him to fulfill it.”

We have entered October; there is no news from either CAATSA or the F-35. We are also trying to find a country that Russia does not consider an enemy to sell the S-400s to!..

We Were Supposedly Going to Get Our Money Back

Let's return to the UN Summit; Erdoğan went to New York practically with his hands full by meeting the US's sanction demands regarding Iran, but returned empty-handed regarding Turkey's demands.

But at the “100 Years of Friendship: Turkey-USA” event, Erdoğan explained that they have a strong and sincere dialogue with Trump and that Trump's visit to Turkey has brought a new breath to our relationship.

At the press conference at the Turkish House; when reminded of Trump's promise regarding the F-35s and asked about the latest situation, he only said the following:

“We had discussed this issue with Mr. Trump at NATO as well. He expressed a positive will regarding Turkey's return to the F-35 program. We are now waiting for this will to turn into concrete steps. We are continuing our contacts on this matter. I believe we will get results.”

Yet 7 years ago, in 2019, he had said, “We have made a payment of 1.2 billion dollars for the F-35 project. We hope to find a solution to the crisis. If they make a wrong move, we will go to the international arbitration court and ask them to pay back the expenses we have made to date.”

When inflation is also taken into account; the money spent on the F-35 and the payment made for the S-400s has exceeded 5 billion dollars.

It is obvious that the US is stalling. As in the newly erupted fund scandal, shouldn't this money, which also came out of the nation's pocket, be pursued and accounted for?

Let's end with what Trump said about Erdoğan at the meeting he held with Gulf countries at the UN Summit.

He used the expressions, “A real tough guy... he is a tough nut... He is a great guy, my friend.”

Yet during his first presidential term, he had warned Erdoğan by saying, “Don't play the tough guy” and threatened to “ruin the Turkish economy”!..

I wonder what or who changed?!

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 2, 2026