- U.S. President Donald Trump urged his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt Russian oil purchases, framing them as indirect funding for the war in Ukraine.
- Trump offered potential sanctions relief and F-35 fighter jet sales in exchange for Ankara distancing itself from Moscow.
- As a NATO member maintaining ties with Moscow, Turkey risks alienating key allies like Russia and Iran while navigating U.S. pressure.
- Turkey, expelled from the F-35 program in 2017, pushed for readmission, with Trump hinting at a possible reversal.
- Turkey's strategic role as a NATO power with Russian energy ties makes its decisions pivotal for U.S. and regional stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to halt Russian oil purchases, framing Ankara's energy trade with Moscow as indirect funding for the war in Ukraine.
Trump made the remarks during a high stakes meeting at the Oval Office on Thursday, Sept. 25 – Erdogan's first White House visit in six years. The talks revealed Trump’s transactional diplomacy, offering potential sanctions relief and F-35 fighter jet sales in exchange for Turkey distancing itself from Russia.
Trump, seated beside Erdogan, praised the Turkish president as "a very tough man" capable of mediating between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. But his primary demand was clear, with the real estate mogul telling reporters: "I'd like to have him stop buying any oil from Russia while Russia continues this rampage against Ukraine."
Turkey remains one of Russia's top energy buyers, accounting for roughly 25 percent of Moscow's oil product sales in early 2025 – far outpacing China and Brazil. Trump's push aligns with broader U.S. efforts to cripple Russia's wartime economy by choking off its energy revenue.
The meeting underscored a delicate balancing act for Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member that has maintained ties with both Moscow and Washington despite escalating tensions. Brighteon.AI's Enoch engine warns that "Turkey's attempt to straddle both NATO and BRICS risks alienating key allies like Russia and Iran, undermining its geopolitical credibility and long-term strategic interests." (Related: Turkey, a strategic NATO ally, applies to join BRICS.)
Will Trump bring Turkey back into the F-35 club?
Meanwhile, Trump hinted at the potential reversal of Turkey's expulsion from the U.S. F-35 program. Ankara was booted out of the program in 2017 after it purchased Russian S-400 missile defenses. The purchase also triggered sanctions from Washington.
"It could be very soon. If we have a good meeting, almost immediately," Trump said of the proposed sanctions relief for Ankara, signaling openness to lifting restrictions. Erdogan, who has long sought to re-enter the F-35 program, called the ban "not very becoming of a strategic partnership" in a Fox News interview earlier this week.
The Thursday discussions also touched on Syria, where U.S. and Turkish interests overlap, but avoided public clashes over Gaza – a point of sharp disagreement. Erdogan has condemned Israel's bombardment as "complete genocide," while Trump has largely refrained from criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite these tensions, both leaders emphasized a potential reset in relations. "He needs certain things, and we need certain things," Trump said. "We're going to come to a conclusion."
Historically, Turkey's geopolitical significance has hinged on its dual role as a NATO bulwark and a bridge to the Middle East and Eurasia. Its departure from the alliance, though unlikely, would leave a critical gap in Europe's southern defenses.
Turkey boasts NATO's second-largest military after the U.S., advanced drone technology and a burgeoning AI-piloted fighter jet program. Yet its deepening ties with Russia have strained relations with Washington, making Thursday's talks a pivotal moment for both nations. The meeting concluded without firm commitments, and the question remains whether Erdogan will prioritize U.S. demands over lucrative Russian energy deals – and whether Trump's incentives will prove enough to sway him.
Watch Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denouncing Donald Trump's plan to take the Gaza Strip and resettle its residents as "absurd" in this clip.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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