Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday welcomed his US counterpart Donald Trump in the capital Ankara, as the two-day NATO summit kicked off.
Erdogan welcomed Trump with an official ceremony at the presidential complex, where they discussed regional and international issues.
A 21-gun salute was also fired in honor of the visiting US president.
As Trump arrived at the complex, the Turkish Air Force's aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars, conducted a ceremonial flyover to welcome the US president.
Before holding bilateral and inter-delegation talks, Erdogan and Trump gathered with the media.
Erdogan said he believes the summit could produce a "favorable decision" on Türkiye's long-running bid to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the US.
"The F-35 issue is not a new one for us. We have discussed it with the US before, and we received a commitment regarding the five aircraft. God willing, I believe a favorable decision on the F-35 issue will emerge from this Leaders' Summit," he added.
Turning to possible US support for Türkiye's indigenous KAAN fighter program, including potential engine supplies, Erdogan said he would discuss the issue with Trump during the summit.
"I believe that he will reiterate here the good news he has already shared with us," Erdogan said.
In 2019, during Trump's first term, the US suspended Türkiye from the F-35 program after objecting to its purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system, claiming the Russian system would endanger the fighter jets.
‘We will bring many issues on our agenda to a successful conclusion’
Trump, for his part, vowed to remove the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) imposed on Türkiye several years ago.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off ... We don’t want to sanction friends,” Trump said.
Earlier, Turkish president had personally greeted Trump upon his arrival at Esenboga Airport.
The two leaders chatted briefly after the US president disembarked. Trump greeted the Guard Regiment's ceremonial unit by saying "Merhaba asker" (Hello, soldier) in Turkish.
Erdogan and Trump later proceeded to the airport's State Guest House, where they posed for an official commemorative photograph.
In a separate message, Erdogan said he was pleased to host Trump in Ankara, expressing confidence that the two leaders' close cooperation would help produce positive outcomes on a range of issues.
"I believe that, thanks to our solidarity and strong relations with Mr. President, we will bring many issues on our agenda to a successful conclusion," Erdogan said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
Later Tuesday evening, Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan will host a reception and official state dinner at the presidential complex for heads of state and government and their spouses attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit.
Earlier, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine visited Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Caine, accompanied by a US delegation, observed a moment of silence before laying a wreath at Ataturk's mausoleum.
NATO heads of state and government, as well as leaders from key partner countries are meeting in Ankara for the alliance's 2026 summit, which will focus on implementing the defense spending commitments agreed at last year's meeting in the Hague, sustaining military support for Ukraine and expanding defense industrial production.
