Erdogan’s ties with Trump could boost Turkey ahead of NATO summit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is using his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to strengthen Turkey’s position ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Ankara. Trump has said he will attend the summit out of respect for Erdogan and has suggested the visit could include progress on U.S.Turkey defense issues, including jet engines and possibly F35 fighter jets. Turkey was removed from the F35 program in 2019 after buying Russia’s S400 missile system, and any new sale would still face opposition in Washington. The article says Erdogan’s approach contrasts with his cooler relationship with former President Joe Biden, while Trump and Erdogan have kept regular contact on issues such as Syria, Gaza and regional security. Their ties have also coincided with broader signs of a thaw in U.S.Turkey relations, including a dropped U.S. case against Turkey’s Halkbank and a move by the State Department toward approving a major jet engine sale.