IRIA News

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan began a two-day official visit to Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2025, with the primary goal of urging U.S. officials to lift sanctions on Turkiye and reinstate Ankara’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet program.

Following a high-level meeting in Washington between Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Turkish foreign ministry announced that the United States has expressed a mutual desire to eliminate barriers hindering cooperation in the defense industry.

“During the meeting between Fidan and Rubio on Tuesday, both sides put forth their political will to lift obstacles to cooperation in the defense industry field,” Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said. “Technical talks will be held for the resolution of existing problems,” the source added, though no further details were provided.

Turkish diplomat hopes to make progress in lifting U.S. sanctions on Turkiye and allowing it to rejoin the F-35 program. Turkiye was a key partner in the program before being kicked out in 2019 over Ankara’s acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems. Ankara calls the decision unfair and illegal, demanding either a return to the program or compensation for its investments.

Meeting between Turkish FM Hakan Fidan and his US counterpart Marco Rubio begins at the US State Department in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/FkYO33Lnpy

— TRT World (@trtworld) March 25, 2025

Visit comes amid protests in Istanbul

The visit, Fidan’s first to Washington since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, comes at a politically sensitive time for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Just days before the diplomatic talks, Erdogan’s main political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, was jailed pending trial, triggering the largest wave of anti-government protests in Turkiye in over a decade.

Fidan’s visit came after a phone call between Erdogan and President Trump that reportedly laid the groundwork for renewed bilateral engagement. “The president had a great conversation with Erdogan a couple of days ago. Really transformational, I would describe it,” Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, said during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

US-Turkiye ties

This warming of ties marks a significant shift from the policy of the previous administration. Under former President Joe Biden, U.S.-Turkey relations were characterized by cool detachment due to Ankara’s closer ties with Moscow, divergent positions on Syria, Gaza, and human rights issues. In contrast, Trump’s more conciliatory stance toward Russia and his personal rapport with Erdogan appear to be driving a strategic recalibration.

“Discussions between Washington and Ankara had taken a new dimension,” a Turkish official stated, referring to the new political atmosphere following Trump’s return to office. The same official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, noted that Ankara hopes to resolve the S-400 crisis by agreeing to keep the missile systems non-operational.

“If U.S. sanctions on Russia are to be lifted, it becomes illogical for CAATSA to be implemented on third countries. As much as this issue is about Turkey-USA ties, it is also about Turkey-Russia ties,” the official added.

The U.S. had previously sanctioned Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2020, following Ankara’s purchase of the S-400 system. That decision also led to Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 program, where it had been both a buyer and a manufacturing partner. Turkey has long argued that its removal from the program was both “unjust and illegal” and continues to demand either reinstatement or reimbursement for its investment.

With the F-35 option closed for now, Turkey has shifted focus to acquiring 40 Lockheed Martin Block-70 F-16 fighter jets. Although both sides have agreed on the sale, progress has remained sluggish. This week’s discussions in Washington included further talks on the matter, though no concrete breakthroughs have yet been announced.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry source, Fidan and Rubio also broached other critical topics of regional and international importance. These included discussions on forthcoming head-of-state level visits, the stability of Syria and the Balkans, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the necessity for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The evolving geopolitical landscape, particularly Trump’s change in approach to Russia, has significantly impacted Turkey’s standing. Trump has taken steps to wind down U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, a stark contrast to Biden’s unwavering support for Kyiv. European leaders have expressed concern over Washington’s shifting priorities, potentially enhancing Ankara’s strategic value in a post-Ukraine-war European security framework.

Meanwhile, Erdogan’s domestic challenges could also influence foreign policy decisions. The jailing of Ekrem Imamoglu has added fuel to long-simmering tensions within Turkey and raised questions about the country’s democratic trajectory. These developments, while officially outside the scope of the bilateral talks, are likely to shape the political climate surrounding any U.S.-Turkey agreements.

While the diplomatic language remains cautious and the path to full defense industry cooperation remains complicated, the tone of this week’s discussions suggests a thawing of relations that could lead to a more collaborative era. Whether this newfound momentum will translate into substantive policy changes or military agreements remains to be seen.

For now, both Ankara and Washington appear willing to explore new avenues for partnership, rebalancing a relationship that has for years swung between strategic alliance and cautious skepticism.