US President Donald Trump says that Turkiye has been a “great ally for us” and hails their role in the US-Iran peace process.
Speaking after the meeting, Trump described Türkiye as one of the United States’ best allies and said Erdoğan’s leadership has made the country stronger in terms of defense. He added that he has no concerns about Türkiye acquiring F-35 fighter jets and said he also has no objection to Ankara’s purchase of Russian defense systems.
Trump said Türkiye understands Iran and the region’s challenges well and could have joined the conflict if it had wanted to. However, he suggested that his efforts may have contributed to Türkiye staying out of the war. He also said he is confident Türkiye does not want Iran to possess nuclear weapons and credited the country with playing an important role in helping end the Iran war.
Commenting on NATO, Trump said he was very disappointed with the alliance, claiming the United States has always protected Europe from Russia but did not receive support when it needed help. He said the U.S. operation against Iran did not require assistance from any other country. Trump added that he had not planned to attend the NATO summit but decided to participate because Türkiye was hosting the event. He said NATO has received billions of dollars to ensure the security of its member states.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump claimed he has helped stop eight wars and expressed confidence that he would also help end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He said he hopes an agreement between the two countries will be reached soon.
Trump also criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he is unpopular and expressing hope that he will no longer remain in office. He added that the British prime minister had promised support only after the war.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that Türkiye will buy five F-35 fighter jets, saying the issue is not new and that the United States had previously promised to provide the aircraft.
Erdoğan also said Türkiye will continue working to restore peace in Gaza and is making efforts to bring Iran and the United States to common ground. He added that discussions at the NATO summit included the situation in Gaza and expressed hope for positive outcomes. Erdoğan said Türkiye will continue working with its partners to promote peace and stability around the world.
