President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that he personally persuaded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to remain on the sidelines during the recent conflict involving Iran, while also signaling that Ankara could soon receive a significant benefit from Washington.

Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said Erdogan had considered becoming involved in the war but ultimately refrained after discussions with him.

“He’s a friend of mine, and he stayed out of the war,” Trump said.

Trump went on to suggest that Turkey had been among the countries most likely to enter the conflict, potentially in support of Iran.

“You know, he was a prime candidate to go into the war with Iran. Maybe, on Iran’s side because he’s not a big fan of Israel, as you know. And I asked him to stay out. He stayed out.”

The president also offered strong praise for Erdogan, describing the Turkish leader as both capable and widely respected.

“Erdogan loves Turkey, right? He’s doing a great job. He loves Turkey. I love the US, but he loves Turkey, and he’s doing a great job. He’s a respected man, a respected leader. He’s been a friend of mine.”

During the exchange with reporters, Trump was asked whether the United States might eventually provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets, something Ankara has long sought.

Responding positively, Trump emphasized Turkey’s importance within the NATO alliance and hinted that he may soon take steps favorable to Erdogan.

“I think so. He’s a member of NATO. Some people don’t consider himself, but he really is. He is a strong member of NATO. Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy.”

Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Prior to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, officials from both countries had been making progress toward repairing ties that had been damaged for years.

That effort largely unraveled after the war began, with Erdogan emerging as one of Israel’s most outspoken international critics.

In March 2024, Erdogan condemned Israel following military operations against terrorist targets in Gaza and referred to the Jewish state as a “terror state.”

Later that year, he argued that the Netanyahu government posed the greatest danger to stability in the Middle East.

Erdogan also drew international attention in April 2024 when he hosted then-Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul. Haniyeh was subsequently eliminated by Israel.

A short time afterward, the Turkish president stated that more than 1,000 Hamas members were receiving medical treatment in Turkish hospitals and criticized Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for describing Hamas as a terrorist organization.

More recently, Erdogan has broadened his criticism of Israel, warning that Israeli military activity in Syria and Lebanon could eventually threaten Turkish interests as well.

Earlier this month, he cautioned against additional Israeli operations in the region, declaring, “We see comprehensive initiatives led by Israel in the Mediterranean, and no one should pursue adventures there.”

He also accused Israel of endangering regional stability, saying, “Israel’s aggression threatens the entire world.”

Warning that Turkey would not remain passive if its interests were harmed, Erdogan added, “If the rights of Turks or Turkish-Cypriots are harmed in the Middle East – our response will be unequivocal and strong.”

Trump’s remarks highlighted both his close personal relationship with Erdogan and Turkey’s continuing importance in regional diplomacy, even as tensions between Ankara and Israel remain high.

{Matzav.com}