Ankara, March 16, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, reaffirming his belief that Turkiye and the United States will advance bilateral cooperation through solidarity, a results-oriented approach, and sincere collaboration in the new era of relations.
According to Turkiye’s Communications Directorate, the two leaders discussed key bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues. The call marked the first direct communication between the two since November, when Erdogan congratulated Trump on his re-election victory.
During the conversation, Erdogan emphasized that recent regional and global developments necessitate increased consultations between Turkey and the U.S. on a wide range of issues. The Turkish President reiterated Turkiye’s support for Trump’s decisive initiative to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. “Turkiye has been working for a just and lasting peace since the very beginning of this three-year-long conflict and will continue to do so,” Erdogan stated.
The conversation also touched on the situation in Syria, with Erdogan stressing the importance of both nations contributing to the lifting of sanctions in order to restore stability in the war-torn country. He added that this action would help make the new administration in Syria functional and facilitate normalization, paving the way for Syrians to return to their homeland.
In the new period of relations, Erdogan called for steps from the U.S. to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism, while ensuring that Turkiye’s interests are respected. He also highlighted the need to improve defense ties, particularly by ending the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, finalizing the F-16 procurement process, and resolving the issues related to Turkey’s re-participation in the F-35 program.
