Erdogan's ties to Trump helped get the US leader to NATO summit

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, citing respect for Erdogan despite criticizing other European leaders.
• Trump’s close relationship with Erdogan may lead to significant U.S. defense-related announcements, including potential sales of F-110 jet engines and F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, which were previously restricted due to Turkey’s purchase of Russian missile systems.
• The U.S.-Turkey relationship is warming under Trump, contrasting with the more distant approach taken by President Joe Biden, who has criticized Erdogan’s democratic backsliding and maintained distance over Turkey’s ties with Russia.
• There is bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Congress to selling advanced military equipment to Turkey while it retains Russian S-400 missile systems, but the State Department has moved forward with notifications related to jet engine sales, bypassing some congressional objections.
• Erdogan and Trump maintain frequent communication, with Erdogan praising their close ties and telephone diplomacy, which has facilitated cooperation on Middle East issues and eased tensions between the two countries.