Sept. 25 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss a potential arms deal, lifting sanctions against Turkey and Middle East peace while meeting on Thursday.
Trump and Erdogan are meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, which will include discussions regarding Erdogan’s desire to purchase F-16 and F-35 fighter aircraft and Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, they told media before their closed-door meeting.
“We do a lot of trade with Turkey, and we’re going to do some more,” Trump told media.
He said a deal for F-16s is likely and a deal for F-35s and the Patriot missiles could be made.
“I think he’ll be successful,” Trump said of Erdogan’s effort to secure a deal for F-35 fighters.
Turkey also wants to buy 200 commercial aircraft, the BBC reported.
The presidents said they are friends and highly respectful of one another, which should make it easier to reach agreements on the many issues that they will discuss.
They also will discuss matters in Gaza and the Middle East, potential assistance for the Greek Orthodox Church and ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he wants Turkey to stop buying Russian oil and is prepared to lift existing sanctions against Turkey for that nation’s past purchase of Russian arms.
The president also said they will discuss tariffs and securing the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Trump said about 20 hostages likely are living and estimated about 38 likely are dead, many of them young boys.
Following his meeting with Erdogan, the president also is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday.
U.S. and Pakistani officials in July secured a trade agreement to lower tariffs between the two nations.
The U.S. also agreed to help Pakistan develop its oil reserves.
