Türkiye has been working to lift US sanctions on its defence industry and resolve the S-400 dispute ahead of an expected meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV on Saturday, Fidan said Ankara and Washington were exploring “creative ideas” to address the disagreement ahead of the leaders’ expected meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.
“CAATSA sanctions are an obstacle for us, particularly for our Presidency of Defence Industries. We are working to have them lifted,” Fidan said.
“There are also some creative ideas for resolving the S-400 issue that led to these sanctions. We are trying to put solutions into practice with mutual goodwill. I hope we will take positive steps on this.”
Referring to Erdogan and Trump’s last meeting in Ankara and subsequent contacts, Fidan said the US president had expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral relations and resolve outstanding disagreements.
Fidan did not disclose details of the proposals being considered to resolve the S-400 dispute.
Erdogan has arrived in New York to attend the General Assembly, where Fidan said he would deliver a wide-ranging speech outlining proposals to address global challenges, including a call for joint action on future risks posed by artificial intelligence.
What is CAATSA?
The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA, is a 2017 US law that provides for sanctions over significant transactions with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors.
The measures imposed on Türkiye targeted its Presidency of Defence Industries, known as SSB, and several senior officials, rather than the country’s armed forces or broader economy.
They included a ban on US export licences and authorisations to SSB, restrictions on loans and other financing, and visa restrictions on designated officials.
Removing these measures could ease access to US defence technology and financing and open the way for closer cooperation on military procurement and joint projects.
From S-400 purchase to sanctions
Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defence system triggered a dispute with Washington, which argued that operating it alongside F-35 fighter jets could compromise the aircraft’s security.
The US removed Türkiye from the F-35 programme in 2019 and imposed CAATSA sanctions in December 2020.
Ankara has maintained that buying the S-400 was a sovereign decision to strengthen its air defences. It rejected US objections and proposed a commission to examine the systems’ compatibility.
Turkish officials have repeatedly criticised the sanctions as unjust and an infringement on national sovereignty.
Trump pledged to lift the sanctions on July 7, speaking before talks with Erdogan in Ankara ahead of the 2026 NATO Summit.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off. It’s time to do that… we don't want to sanction friends. It's very simple,” Trump said.
