Trump Lifts Sanctions on Turkey, Signals Renewed Strategic Partnership with Erdoğan
President Trump's strong ties with Turkish President Erdoğan led to the lifting of sanctions on Turkey and a reversal of the F-35 jet policy. This relationship also influenced the resolution of the high-profile Reza Zarrab and Halkbank sanctions evasion case, raising questions about Justice Department independence and the nature of U.S. foreign relations.
President Donald Trump has announced the removal of U.S. sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), marking a major shift in Washington's relationship with one of its key NATO allies.
The announcement came shortly after Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO summit, describing him as "a very strong leader" and saying Turkey's hosting of the summit influenced his decision to attend.
While easing restrictions on Turkey, Trump simultaneously reimposed sanctions on Iran over its oil trade, making the move a significant diplomatic concession to Ankara.
The policy shift extends beyond sanctions, with reports indicating the Trump administration is also preparing to allow Turkey to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet programme, reversing a restriction that has been in place for six years.
The development coincides with progress in the long-running U.S. case involving Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, whose cooperation with American prosecutors led to charges against Turkey's state-owned Halkbank over sanctions-evasion schemes involving Iranian oil revenues. Prosecutors have since agreed to drop charges against Halkbank under certain conditions, while also seeking a reduced sentence for Zarrab ahead of his July 14 sentencing.
The developments have renewed scrutiny of Trump's close relationship with Erdoğan. During his first term, Trump drew criticism for dispatching former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Attorney General Michael Mukasey to pursue negotiations with the Turkish government over the Zarrab case, an intervention that a federal judge described as unprecedented.
Defending his latest decision, Trump said the rationale was straightforward: "You don't want to sanction friends." The move reinforces his transactional approach to foreign policy and signals a renewed effort to strengthen U.S.-Turkey relations despite longstanding tensions over Ankara's ties with Russia and regional security issues.