US President Donald Trump has called on Turkey to stop importing oil from Russia, part of ongoing efforts to diminish Moscow’s financial resources amidst the conflict in Ukraine. During a meeting at the White House with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump emphasized that halting these imports would be beneficial for Turkey.
The meeting did not yield specific agreements related to the lifting of US sanctions on Turkey or the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, although Trump expressed positive expectations for future discussions. Turkey had previously been barred from acquiring F-35s in 2019 after it obtained Russian air defense systems.
In a brief session with reporters, Trump reiterated his desire for Turkey to cease purchasing oil from Russia while the conflict continues. He noted that Erdogan holds respect from both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he could exert significant influence over the situation if desired. Turkey is among the largest importers of Russian oil and gas, alongside countries like India and China.
Trump’s remarks followed his earlier statements about potentially imposing stricter sanctions on Russia under conditions that involve NATO allies ceasing imports of Russian energy. Additionally, he criticized NATO countries for unintentionally funding the conflict through energy purchases from Moscow.
During his first term, Trump’s administration removed Turkey from the F-35 program following its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems. A 2020 US defense bill stipulates that Turkey can only obtain F-35s if it abandons its Russian defense systems. Concerns from some US lawmakers about Turkey’s military actions and ties to Russia continue to influence discussions about potential arms sales.
While Trump indicated possibilities for lifting sanctions against Turkey and seeing negotiations resolve the F-35 issue, Erdogan expressed that the existing ban was inconsistent with their strategic partnership.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jm3lr7vkyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss