Trump and Erdoğan Meet in Person for First Time Since January — A Turning Point?
On June 24–25, 2025, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump met in person for the first time since Trump’s return to office in January. Their roughly 30-minute discussion covered the Israel‑Iran ceasefire, the Ukraine war, Turkey‑U.S. tensions, and regional security priorities
Key Takeaways
Middle East ceasefire momentum: Erdoğan welcomed the U.S.‑brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel and urged shifting this from a fragile truce to a permanent peace. He also pressed for a Gaza ceasefire, citing the humanitarian crisis
- Ukraine peace talks on the table: Erdoğan floated the idea of hosting a Ukraine peace summit in Turkey, possibly involving President Putin. Trump reportedly reacted positively
- Turkey’s F‑35 ambitions reignited: Erdoğan expressed hopes of renegotiating Turkish participation in the U.S. F‑35 fighter jet program—a program Ankara was removed from after purchasing Russian missile systems .
- Fixing strained ties: Both leaders emphasized repairing bilateral relations, with discussions touching on Turkey’s regional role, defense cooperation, and Eurasian diplomacy
Broader Context from The Hague Summit
The meeting took place amid a broader NATO push to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035—an initiative strongly backed by Trump. U.S. outlets confirmed Trump praised the deal and acknowledged NATO’s renewed unity, despite earlier skepticism over Article 5 and possible European troop burden‑sharing
This backdrop highlights two dynamics:
NATO’s diplomatic charm offensive—especially by Dutch hosts—to win over Trump
- Trump connecting regional outcomes—like the Iran‑Israel truce—with NATO strategy and burden‑sharing talks .
What It Means Going Forward
U.S.–Turkey rapprochement: The meeting signals warming ties and opens the door for future bilateral dialogue on defense, diplomacy, and regional peace processes.
Potential F-35 reset: Turkey’s renewed interest in rejoining the F‑35 program could recalibrate Ankara–Washington defense ties.
Big-picture diplomacy: Erdoğan’s Kyiv‑Putin summit idea, backed by Trump, could shape future Ukraine‑peace initiatives—but remains speculative.