Bloomberg: Turkey Nears Deal for 250 Boeing Jets Ahead of Erdogan-Trump White House Meeting

According to Bloomberg, President Erdoğan is expected to sign multibillion-dollar aircraft deals during his Sept. 25 visit to Washington, as Turkey seeks to finalize orders for commercial Boeing jets, Lockheed Martin F-16s, and possibly resolve its F-35 exclusion.

Turkey and the United States appear to be on the verge of landmark defense and trade agreements, with Ankara reportedly preparing to order up to 250 Boeing passenger planes and dozens of F-16 fighter jets. The prospective deals could also include progress toward reinstating Turkey in the F-35 stealth jet program, from which it was suspended in 2019.

The announcement comes ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s scheduled visit to the White House on September 25, where he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump following the UN General Assembly in New York.

F-16 and F-35 Deals Back on the Table

Turkish officials told Bloomberg that Erdoğan’s visit will aim to seal multiple agreements in defense, aviation, and energy, potentially worth tens of billions of dollars.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Turkey plans to purchase 40 new F-16 Viper aircraft, as well as 40 F-35 jets, and a large package of munitions, including guided bombs and missiles.

While pricing negotiations for the F-16s are ongoing, the bigger question remains Turkey’s path back into the F-35 program, from which it was removed due to its 2019 acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system — a move that triggered U.S. CAATSA sanctions.

Erdoğan’s team is reportedly considering a compromise in which a technical oversight mechanism would be created to supervise the S-400 system and reassure U.S. concerns, without requiring Turkey to abandon the Russian hardware entirely.

Boeing-Turkish Airlines Deal Nearing Signature

On the commercial front, Boeing is close to finalizing a major order from Turkish Airlines, possibly involving as many as 250 aircraft. The deal is likely to be showcased during Erdoğan’s Washington visit or in follow-up bilateral talks in October.

The fleet expansion is expected to include mostly 737 Max models, alongside 75 of the long-range 787 Dreamliner widebody jets.

While Turkish Airlines has not officially confirmed the finalization of the deal, its spokesperson Yahya Üstün stated:

“We have been discussing an order with Boeing for quite some time, but no final decision has been made yet.”

Trump: “A Very Good Relationship with Erdoğan”

In a social media post on Friday, President Trump confirmed the upcoming visit, writing:

“We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively. President Erdoğan and I have always had a very good relationship.”

Aircraft orders have played a prominent role in Trump’s push to narrow the U.S. trade deficit, and Boeing has seen strong sales in 2024, outpacing its European rival Airbus. Boeing shares have risen 22% this year, compared to a 35% rise in the broader Aerospace & Defense sector index.

Erdoğan’s Aviation Vision: Istanbul vs. Dubai

Turkish Airlines has made no secret of its ambition to double its fleet over the next decade and turn Istanbul Airport into a global hub, competing directly with Dubai and Doha. President Erdoğan sees THY as a national symbol of Turkey’s $900 billion economy and a key soft power asset.

The airline, which now flies to more countries than any other carrier, has also recently secured an Airbus order for 230 planes, as it balances its procurement between major manufacturers.

The F-35 Stalemate: Path to Resolution?

Turkey was once a core partner in the F-35 development program and had invested heavily in its production supply chain before being expelled over the S-400 deal. The U.S. has maintained that rejoining the program would require Turkey to fully abandon the Russian system.

However, in June, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack told state-run Anadolu Agency that a resolution could be possible before year-end, signaling a potential breakthrough.

While no formal agreement has been reached, Turkish officials believe that Trump may be open to a flexible compromise, particularly given the improving tone of bilateral relations and shared strategic concerns.

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