ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he and President Donald Trump had made “meaningful progress” on a range of regional and bilateral issues at their first meeting in the White House in six years, where they discussed defense cooperation and trade.
However, a readout of Erdogan’s comments to reporters on his return trip from Washington made no direct reference to Turkiye’s purchases of Russian oil or of US fighter jets, which were a central part of Thursday’s talks.
After a cool relationship with Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, Ankara has been keen to leverage the friendly personal ties between Erdogan and Trump and to take advantage of a US administration eager to make deals in return for big-ticket arms and trade agreements.
Erdogan said they had exchanged views on steps to boost trade, including the revision of customs duties to achieve their $100-billion target, and added that he had left “happy” after the meeting.
“It’s certainly impossible to resolve every issue in a single meeting. However, this meeting has led to meaningful progress on many issues,” he said according to a transcript shared by his office on Friday.
Unveiling a long-awaited deal following the meeting, Turkish Airlines said it would order 75 Boeing 787 planes and had completed negotiations for 150 737 MAX planes, subject to engine talks.
Following the talks, Trump said he believed Turkiye, a NATO ally, would agree to his request to stop purchasing Russian oil. Turkiye has in recent years diversified its energy supply channels, but has also opposed Western sanctions against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, saying it needs to balance ties with Moscow and Kyiv.
The Kremlin, commenting on the Trump-Erdogan talks, said on Friday that cooperation between Russia and Turkiye was continuing. While the Turkish transcript did not mention oil, Turkiye’s energy minister said the allies signed a strategic civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding.
Ahead of the meeting, both Erdogan and Trump had highlighted as key agenda points Turkiye’s purchase of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 fighter jets and its desire to overcome US sanctions so it can buy advanced F-35 jets.
Trump also told reporters, both before and after the meeting, that he might lift the sanctions, which Washington imposed in 2020 — during Trump’s first term — over Ankara’s acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defenses.
The sanctions also ousted Turkiye from an F-35 program in which it was a buyer and manufacturer, prompting Ankara to develop its own fighter jet and seek to procure alternatives such as the Eurofighter Typhoons.
Erdogan’s comments made no mention of the jets or sanctions.
The Turkish leader said he and Trump had held extensive discussions about US ally Israel’s war in Gaza and peace efforts there.
He said they had “reached an understanding” on how to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza and Palestine. Erdogan also said he explained to Trump the need for a two-state solution in the Middle East for regional peace.
Turkiye is a vocal critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, calling it a “genocide,” and has urged countries including the US to end their support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Israel strongly denies genocide charges.
Erdogan hails ‘meaningful progress’ in talks with Trump
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Erdogan hails ‘meaningful progress’ in talks with Trump
- Turkish president says he discussed trade, defense cooperation in White House meeting
- Erdogan and Trump agreed on ceasefire and peace efforts for Gaza
Military drone attack on Sudan oil field kills dozens and threatens South Sudan’s economic lifeline
- RSF said the oil field in Heglig was attacked a day after they seized the facility near the border with South Sudan
- South Sudanese soldiers were among the dead in the attack by an Akinci drone
JUBA: Dozens of people were killed Tuesday evening in a drone strike near Sudan’s largest oil processing facility carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces, according to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The RSF, which has been fighting Sudan’s military since 2023, said the oil field in Heglig was attacked a day after the RSF seized the facility near the border with South Sudan.
Both sides told The Associated Press that the exact number of dead and wounded could not immediately be confirmed. Local news outlets reported seven tribal leaders and “dozens” of RSF troopers were killed.
South Sudanese soldiers were among the dead in the attack by an Akinci drone, according to the RSF, which condemned the attack as a violation of international law.
Two Sudanese military officials confirmed the drone strike, which they said targeted RSF fighters.
The government of South Sudan’s Unity State confirmed three South Sudanese soldiers were killed. A South Sudanese solider, who witnessed the strike and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak, estimated 25 people were killed.
South Sudanese commander Johnson Olony said in a statement that South Sudanese forces may have been sent to secure Heglig after its capture. South Sudan’s military spokesperson declined to comment.
South Sudan relies entirely on Sudanese pipelines to export its oil and has seen production repeatedly disrupted by the conflict, worsening its economic crisis.
Sudanese soldiers and oil workers began evacuating Heglig on Monday and the RSF took control of the facility without resistance. By Tuesday, about 3,900 Sudanese soldiers had surrendered their weapons to South Sudanese forces after crossing into Rubkona County, according to Unity State’s information ministry.
Video from South Sudan’s state broadcaster showed tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery among the weapons handed over.
Thousands of civilians from Sudan began crossing the border into South Sudan on Sunday and were still arriving Wednesday, the South Sudan government said, adding that the exact number was not yet known. South Sudan insists it remains neutral in the conflict despite accusations of siding with the RSF.
Heglig’s capture is the latest in a string of RSF territorial gains, including the October fall of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in Darfur. The war, which began in April 2023, has killed an estimated 150,000 people, displaced millions and triggered multiple famines. Both sides face allegations of atrocities.
The capture of Heglig, a vital state asset, could be a significant bargaining chip for the RSF, analysts said. But the opaque nature of oil finances makes it difficult to determine how much the SAF, RSF or South Sudan will be impacted economically over the short term.
