By Bosphorus News Geopolitics Desk
U.S. President Donald Trump gave no timeline for lifting sanctions on Türkiye when asked on October 2 what was delaying action he had promised at the NATO summit in Ankara. Instead, he said he loved Türkiye and again described President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a friend.
A CNN Türk reporter reminded Trump that he had said in July that Washington should not sanction friends and asked what was holding up the removal of measures imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Trump first asked which outlet the reporter represented. After hearing "CNN Turk" and confirming the question was about Türkiye, he replied:
"I love Turkey."
"I'll always speak to President Erdogan. He's a friend of mine, as you know, and I'll always make him happy."
Donald Trump, October 2
Trump did not say what was delaying sanctions relief, give a timetable or explain what legal steps his administration planned to take.
The question followed Trump's July 7 meeting with Erdoğan in Ankara. Trump said then that his administration would remove the sanctions and argued that friends should not sanction one another. At the same meeting, he called Türkiye an important NATO ally and repeatedly emphasized his personal relationship with Erdoğan.
Washington imposed CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) in December 2020 over Ankara's acquisition of Russia's S-400 air-defense system. The measures included restrictions on U.S. export licenses and certain financing involving SSB.
CAATSA sanctions and Türkiye's effort to regain access to the F-35 program run on separate legal tracks. A State Department response to Congress in July said Türkiye had not yet met the statutory conditions for an F-35 transfer, including requirements linked to possession of the S-400 system. Those restrictions would remain even if the administration moved separately on CAATSA sanctions.
Ankara has continued talks with Washington on both files while discussing possible ways to resolve the S-400 issue. Turkish officials have said political and technical work is continuing, but no final arrangement has been announced.
Trump again stressed his personal ties with Erdoğan on October 2. He did not answer when or how the sanctions would be lifted.
Sources: White House, Roll Call / Factbase, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bosphorus News review and reporting.