Erdogan says progress made in meeting with Trump on defense, trade and Gaza talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he and U.S. President Donald Trump had made "meaningful progress" on a range of regional and bilateral issues at their first meeting in the White House in six years, where they discussed defense cooperation and trade.

Erdogan said they had exchanged views on steps to boost trade, including the revision of customs duties to achieve their $100 billion target, and added that he had left "happy" after the meeting.

Before the meeting, Erdogan told reporters that he would discuss with Trump "in detail" the sales of F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye.

The meeting took place amid ongoing unresolved issues in the U.S.-Türkiye relationship, including the dispute over the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara, U.S. sanctions on Türkiye, and Trump's former call for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, including Türkiye, to cease purchasing Russian oil.

During his first term, Trump removed Türkiye, a NATO ally, from its F-35 fighter jet program following Ankara's purchase of a Russian air defense system.

Unveiling a long-awaited deal following the meeting, Turkish Airlines said it would order 75 Boeing 787 planes and had completed negotiations for 150 737 MAX planes, subject to engine talks.

The Kremlin, commenting on the Trump-Erdogan talks, said on Friday that cooperation between Russia and Türkiye was continuing.

While the Turkish transcript did not mention oil, Türkiye's energy minister said the allies signed a strategic civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding.

Erdogan said he and Trump had held extensive discussions about U.S. ally Israel's war in Gaza and peace efforts there.

He said they had "reached an understanding" on how to achieve a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza and Palestine. Erdogan also said he explained to Trump the need for a two-state solution in the Middle East for regional peace.

(With input from agencies)