Turkish and U.S. lawmakers met in Washington to discuss defense cooperation, regional security, and the future of bilateral relations. The meetings reflected continued efforts by both countries to strengthen communication and explore areas of shared interest.
Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish Parliament’s National Defense Committee, led the Turkish delegation during the visit. Akar, who previously served as Türkiye’s national defense minister, held discussions with members of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill.
During the meetings, Akar met Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and Representative Pat Harrigan. The talks focused on defense cooperation, security issues, and regional developments affecting both countries.
After the meetings, Akar said the discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on defense and security matters. He added that both sides discussed current regional and global developments while sharing their expectations for future cooperation.
Akar also stressed the importance of maintaining regular communication between the legislatures of Türkiye and the United States. He said stronger parliamentary dialogue can help improve bilateral relations and support continued cooperation in important areas.
Alongside the Capitol Hill meetings, Akar and members of the Turkish Parliament’s National Defense Committee visited Türkiye’s Ambassador to Washington, Sedat Önal, at the Turkish Embassy. The visit formed part of the wider diplomatic program during the delegation’s trip to the United States.
The meetings followed last week’s NATO summit, where defense cooperation between Türkiye and the United States remained an important topic. Leaders from NATO member countries discussed regional security challenges and cooperation among allies during the gathering.
Following the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said U.S. President Donald Trump had shown a positive approach toward the possible delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye. Erdoğan said the issue was discussed as part of broader conversations on defense cooperation.
Erdoğan also stated that many U.S. sanctions affecting Türkiye had been removed. He described defense cooperation as one of the key pillars of the relationship between the two NATO allies.
The future of the F-35 program remains one of the most closely watched issues in relations between Washington and Ankara. Türkiye was removed from the multinational fighter jet program in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.
At the time, U.S. officials argued that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could create security risks for the advanced aircraft. As a result, Türkiye was excluded from the program before receiving the aircraft it had planned to purchase.
Turkish officials have consistently rejected those concerns. Ankara has continued to request either readmission to the F-35 program or compensation for payments already made toward the aircraft.
President Erdoğan also said he and President Trump had reached an understanding to expand cooperation in both defense and economic relations. However, no official timetable has been announced for future agreements or specific policy changes.
Defense cooperation remains an important part of the long-standing partnership between Türkiye and the United States. As NATO allies, both countries continue to work together on a range of regional and international security issues despite disagreements on some defense policies.
The latest meetings in Washington highlight the willingness of lawmakers from both countries to continue discussions on shared priorities. Regular dialogue between government officials and legislators may help address differences while identifying new opportunities for cooperation.
Although several important issues remain unresolved, both sides indicated that communication will continue. Future discussions are expected to focus on defense projects, regional stability, economic cooperation, and strengthening the strategic partnership between Türkiye and the United States.
