Turkey Says CAATSA Sanctions Could Be Lifted ‘Very Soon’ as Talks With US Advance

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Saturday that Ankara and Washington are moving closer to resolving the long-standing U.S. sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Speaking on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Fidan said both governments were engaged in active negotiations and expressed confidence that the restrictions could be removed “very soon.”

The CAATSA measures were introduced in 2020 after Turkey purchased Russia’s S-400 air-defence missile system, a step the United States argued compromised NATO security. As a consequence, Ankara was expelled from the F-35 fighter jet programme and barred from acquiring advanced U.S. defence equipment, straining bilateral ties for several years.

Fidan noted that the change in the U.S. administration’s approach has created a new environment for dialogue. He suggested that the matter may be resolved during President Donald Trump’s current term, signalling Ankara’s expectation of a more flexible stance from Washington. Turkish officials have repeatedly argued that the sanctions are unjustified and have restricted cooperation between two key NATO allies.

During his remarks, Fidan also addressed U.S. diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He described Washington’s 28-point proposal as an evolving framework and said discussions were progressing toward a more workable model. Turkey, which has previously hosted talks between the conflicting sides, reiterated its willingness to facilitate fresh negotiations if needed.

The prospect of CAATSA relief has raised expectations of a broader reset in defence and political cooperation between the two countries. While no detailed timeline has been disclosed, both sides are believed to be exploring options ranging from a full repeal of the sanctions to an agreed-upon exemption pathway that would restore defence-industry links Fidan’s comments mark one of the strongest indications in recent years that Ankara and Washington may be inching toward resolving one of their most persistent points of friction.