Trump reaffirms support for Erdoğan as CAATSA sanctions remain unlifted

President Trump told reporters on October 3 that Erdoğan is “a friend of mine” and that he will “always make him happy,” renewing his personal backing three months after promising at the NATO summit in Ankara to lift the CAATSA sanctions. Washington imposed those sanctions in 2020 over Türkiye's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems, and they also cost Türkiye its place in the F-35 programme. The sanctions are still in force: friendly words from the White House driveway are not the policy change Ankara is waiting for.

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