Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is working to arrange a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, potentially by late April, Bloomberg News reported, citing Turkish officials.
Erdogan views stronger U.S.-Turkey relations as essential for regional stability, particularly as Ankara aims to mediate conflicts from Ukraine to Syria. Neither Erdogan’s office nor the White House has responded to requests for comments.
Tensions between the two NATO allies remain high. The U.S. supports a Syrian Kurdish militia in the fight against the Islamic State, a group Turkey considers a terrorist organization. Turkey has criticized this alliance as a betrayal. Additionally, Ankara’s 2019 purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems led to U.S. sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program.
On Sunday, Erdogan spoke with Trump by phone, discussing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and restore stability in Syria. Erdogan expressed support for Trump's "decisive and direct initiatives" to resolve the conflict and reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to achieving a "just and lasting peace," according to a statement from his office.
Erdogan’s push for a White House visit reflects Turkey’s broader strategy of strengthening diplomatic ties amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.