Turkish–US bilateral relations have entered their most promising period in nearly a decade following the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit hosted in Ankara on July 7–8, 2026, according to official summit outcomes and diplomatic reports. Long-standing disputes regarding Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet programme and Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions are moving toward resolution as regional security dynamics and shifting alignments in Syria reshape the strategic partnership between Washington and Ankara.
NATO Summit in Ankara Cements Strategic Defense Realignments
Hosting the NATO Summit in Ankara during a volatile regional security climate highlighted Türkiye’s growing strategic value within the Alliance, according to the Ankara Declaration. As a direct neighbor to Syria and Iran, Türkiye manages persistent spillover from regional conflicts while maintaining its position as a regional mediator. Although the summit occurred amid debates over defense spending and European burden-sharing driven by US President Donald Trump, the final declaration reaffirmed Article 5 and pledged deeper industrial defense cooperation to reinforce the eastern flank of the Alliance.
The institutional footprint of NATO inside Türkiye is expanding as a direct result of these talks. Because Türkiye maintains the second-largest military force in the bloc after the US, member states agreed to establish a multinational corps headquarters within the country. Furthermore, renewed discussions regarding Türkiye’s potential return to the F-35 aircraft development programme signal a concerted effort to mend defense ties. US President Donald Trump publicly praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the proceedings, reinforcing a warmer diplomatic tone between the two capitals.
Did you know? The July 2026 gathering marked the first time Türkiye has hosted a NATO Summit in 22 years, serving as a critical platform to showcase its domestic defense industry capabilities.
Syria’s Political Shift Serves as the Conduit for Rapprochement
Syria has transitioned from the primary source of bilateral friction into the foundational platform for renewed Turkish–US cooperation, according to policy analyses from Daktilo1984. Following the flight of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the rise of transitional authorities led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ankara and Washington found shared interests in stabilizing the country, preventing fragmentation, and fostering post-war reconstruction under Ahmad al-Sharaa.
This alignment was bolstered when the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed in principle to integrate into the Syrian government’s armed forces, resolving a major security divergence between Washington and Ankara. Simultaneously, Türkiye initiated a renewed peace process with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to conclude more than four decades of armed conflict. Capitalizing on these stabilizing factors, US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack noted that Türkiye is now viewed as an indispensable partner in reshaping regional transport and energy networks, including potential transit corridors connecting the Gulf to Türkiye through Syria.
Defense Procurement Breakthroughs: F-35s, CAATSA, and KAAN Engines
The diplomatic thaw has yielded tangible progress on defense manufacturing bottlenecks that accumulated during President Trump’s first term. Tensions originally escalated in 2018 following the detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson, which triggered US tariffs and sanctions. Relations deteriorated further when Türkiye acquired the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, prompting the Trump administration to impose CAATSA sanctions on the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and remove Ankara from the F-35 programme.
In the current strategic environment, however, those barriers are dissolving. President Trump has pledged to lift the CAATSA sanctions, and longstanding disputes over the S-400 and F-35 platforms are progressing toward a formal resolution. Additionally, the US congressional review process cleared the long-awaited sale of F110 engines intended to power Türkiye’s KAAN fighter jets after lawmakers declined to block the transaction. Ankara also formalized its defense integration by joining President Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP) and becoming a founding member of the Canada-backed Defence Security and Resilience Bank.
Pro Tip for Analysts: When evaluating modern Turkish foreign policy, observe how pragmatic economic and security integration under the current recalibration has largely replaced the isolationist “değerli yalnızlık” (precious loneliness) doctrine introduced by academic İbrahim Kalın.
Potential Disruptions: The Iran Conflict and US Midterm Elections
Despite current diplomatic momentum, policy experts caution that structural vulnerabilities could disrupt the bilateral rapprochement. A renewed escalation between the US and Iran risks exposing fundamental divergences in regional strategy. While Washington may push for direct confrontation or strict alignment, Türkiye prefers a balancing act to avoid becoming directly involved in a broader confrontation.
Furthermore, much of the recent policy alignment relies heavily on the close personal ties between Presidents Erdoğan and Trump. Analysts note that if the domestic political landscape in the US shifts following upcoming midterm elections, the relative lack of deeper institutional alignment could leave the current diplomatic reset exposed to political volatility in Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were sanctions originally imposed on Türkiye by the US?
The US imposed CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and removed the country from the F-35 fighter programme after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system during President Trump’s first term.
What role did Syria play in improving Turkish-US relations?
Following the exit of Bashar al-Assad, both nations converged on stabilizing transitional authorities, supporting reconstruction, and integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces into official armed structures, turning Syria into a cooperative platform rather than a source of conflict.
Are Turkish F-35 returns and CAATSA sanctions officially resolved?
President Trump pledged to lift CAATSA sanctions during the July 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, and discussions regarding Türkiye’s return to the F-35 programme are actively moving toward resolution.
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