Fidan says Türkiye, US working to lift CAATSA sanctions
ANKARA
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said Türkiye and the United States have a shared political will to lift sanctions imposed on Ankara under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, known as CAATSA.
Speaking to CNN Türk on July 2, Fidan said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed their determination on the issue during a meeting at the White House last September.
“There is a strong will from both our president and President Trump” to remove the sanctions, Fidan said.
He said Erdoğan and Trump had instructed their ministers to work toward a solution, adding that he and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler were conducting intensive efforts on the file.
Fidan described CAATSA as the only lasting institutional problem in Türkiye-U.S. relations.
“Specific decisions regarding Türkiye can occasionally be taken, but institutionally, the only lasting negative issue at the moment is the CAATSA sanctions,” he said.
He said restrictions imposed by several other countries on Türkiye had been lifted over the past three to four years through diplomatic engagement, citing Canada among the latest examples.
Asked whether the U.S. sanctions could soon be removed, Fidan said work was continuing.
“There are certain steps that need to be taken. Work in this direction is underway, and as this is done, the public will see the results,” he said.
Fidan said there was no problem in terms of political will between the two administrations, but added that the process in the U.S. Congress would also matter.
He also welcomed Trump’s expected attendance at next week’s NATO summit in Ankara, calling it positive for the alliance.
“This in itself is important and positive news for the NATO community,” he said.
Fidan said Erdoğan’s ties with world leaders and Türkiye’s current position had become more important at a time of global conflicts and shifting alliances.
On defense cooperation, Fidan said Ankara was working to remove restrictions affecting bilateral ties, including issues related to the F-35 fighter jet program and defense industry cooperation.
Asked whether recent remarks by Trump could point to progress on engines requested for Türkiye’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, Fidan declined to speak on behalf of Washington.
“I do not want to speak on behalf of the U.S. regarding what President Trump may announce,” he said.
Fidan said lifting the ban on F-35 sales and Türkiye’s return to the production program should be considered separately.
He said removing the sales restriction would be easier as an administrative step, while restoring Türkiye’s former role as a production partner would require a separate decision by the multinational F-35 consortium.
Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Ankara says it fulfilled its obligations under the program and has long called for either delivery of the aircraft it paid for or a settlement.
Fidan also said Türkiye follows an independent foreign policy based on its national interests while maintaining dialogue with all sides.
“There is no need for us to make other countries’ enemies our enemies as well,” he said. “We are mature enough to determine our own friends and enemies.”
On the European Union, Fidan said both Türkiye and the bloc agreed on the need to modernize the Customs Union, but said the Greek Cypriot side continued to block progress.
He said Ankara also continued to pursue visa liberalization with the EU, while pressing for improvements in current visa practices until that goal is achieved.
Fidan described Türkiye’s recent diplomatic contacts as part of a “360-degree foreign policy,” saying Ankara was expanding cooperation with countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond.