Türkiye admits US sanctions eased

The Turkish president said on Saturday that US sanctions against Turkey have been eased under Donald Trump and will likely be lifted.

“We can easily say that sanctions have been eased,” Erdogan told reporters on the plane as he returned from a European summit in Albania. According to the Turkish president, a “more constructive” dialogue with the Trump administration had been achieved.

“Turkey will overcome this sanctions process much faster,” Erdogan said.

In 2020, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey, its NATO ally, over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.

The decision, which has weakened relations between the two countries, was taken under a law passed in 2017 by the US Congress to “counter America’s adversaries through sanctions” and limit Russia’s influence in the defense sector.

Washington also excluded Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program on the grounds that the presence of the S-400 system would allow Russia to compile information about the aircraft's capabilities.

The Turkish president has already shown that Türkiye's partnership with the United States is "of vital importance to establishing stability in the region and the world," he said.

In March, the Turkish president spoke with Donald Trump about the need to finalize a deal that would allow Turkey to buy American F-16 fighter jets and be readmitted to the F-35 aircraft development program.

Turkey wants to modernize its air fleet and also wants to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, built by a consortium that includes Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.