07.07.2026 18:20
During the NATO Summit in Ankara, where the world’s attention was locked, the joint press conference of U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan witnessed historic developments. Trump announced that the CAATSA sanctions imposed on Turkey would be lifted; at the moment the decision was announced, President Erdoğan pointed at Trump with his index finger, making a "confirmation" gesture.
During the critical NATO Leaders Summit held in the capital, the two leaders came together and gave important messages in front of the cameras before their bilateral and inter-delegation meetings, opening a new page in Turkish-American relations.
GOOD NEWS FOR F-35 FIGHTER JETS
Taking the floor at the meeting, President Erdoğan shared a striking development regarding the F-35 program, which has long been a point of crisis between the two countries. Erdoğan stated that as a result of negotiations, US President Trump promised the delivery of five F-35 fighter jets to Turkey initially.
TRUMP: I DON'T WANT TO BURDEN MY FRIEND WITH SANCTIONS
The most critical statement of the press conference was regarding the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions imposed on Turkey for years due to its procurement of S-400 air defense systems from Russia. Announcing a step to ease bilateral relations, Trump said that the sanctions would be lifted, stating, "I don't want to burden Turkey, my friend, with sanctions."
ERDOĞAN'S REACTION MADE HEADLINES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
During the moment when Trump uttered that historic sentence about the removal of CAATSA sanctions and the interpreter conveyed these words, President Erdoğan's facial reaction did not escape the cameras' notice. Pointing at Trump with his index finger, Erdoğan then made a "thumbs up" gesture of approval. That striking reaction from Erdoğan quickly spread and became one of the most watched and talked-about moments of the day on social media platforms.