Historic Summit Today: President Erdoğan in Washington

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Washington, D.C., for a historic meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. This marks the first meeting between the two leaders during Trump’s second term, following their previous meetings in 2017 and 2019.

The leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, defense industry cooperation, the F-35 program, the situation in Syria, the genocide in Gaza, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

Prior to his visit to Washington, Erdoğan met with Syrian President Ahmed Sharaf at the Turkish House in New York. The meeting, which also included Syrian Foreign Minister Esad Şeybani and Turkish Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın, focused on bilateral relations and regional issues. Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while calling for the lifting of sanctions against Syria.

Erdoğan also held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, where they discussed bilateral relations, regional and global issues, and the need to revive Turkey-EU relations. Erdoğan praised Macron’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state and stressed the importance of increasing international pressure on Israel for a two-state solution.

Additionally, Erdoğan met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, with discussions focusing on energy, defense, and trade cooperation.

Upon his arrival in Washington, Erdoğan was greeted by Turkish Ambassador Sedat Önal and other officials. He will stay at Blair House, the official guest residence of the White House, where he was warmly welcomed by Turkish citizens.

The meeting between Erdoğan and Trump is seen as a crucial step in strengthening bilateral ties and addressing key global challenges.