Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on March 25 and 26, marking the first high-level Ankara visit since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The talks come amid escalating concerns over President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s tightening grip on power, which drew public condemnation this week from a senior US senator.
The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of topics, from the war in Ukraine to developments in Syria and US-Turkey defence ties, Hürriyet Daily News, known for its closeness to the Turkish government, reported on Monday. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, Fidan aims to discuss “strategic steps” to deepen bilateral cooperation and lay groundwork for a planned presidential-level meeting in Washington.
The timing of the visit has raised eyebrows in Washington, coming days after a phone conversation between Erdoğan and Trump. Just yesterday, 24 March, Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland criticised Erdoğan’s government after the detention of İstanbul’s opposition mayor, widely seen as Erdoğan’s strongest political rival.
Erdoğan — whom Trump has called “a hell of a leader” — just locked up his main political rival as he continues to push Turkey towards full-blown autocracy.
We cannot turn a blind eye as dictatorial rulers subvert democracy around the world. https://t.co/5OKwfTRsSG pic.twitter.com/rG8HdNxhfd
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) March 24, 2025
“Erdoğan — whom Trump has called ‘a hell of a leader’ — just locked up his main political rival as he continues to push Turkey towards full-blown autocracy,” Van Hollen posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, warning against ignoring authoritarian drift in US allies. The senator’s remarks also drew veiled criticism of Trump, highlighting concerns about Washington’s continued engagement with strongmen leaders.
In policy terms, Fidan is expected to press for Turkey’s removal from US sanctions imposed under the CAATSA law and advocate for Ankara’s return to the F-35 fighter jet programme. Turkey was ousted from the project after acquiring Russia’s S-400 missile defence systems in 2019.
Fidan will also reiterate Turkey’s demand for an end to US military cooperation with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria but Washington has long relied on the Kurdish-led forces in its campaign against Islamic State (ISIS). Fidan is expected to stress the need for joint oversight of detention camps holding ISIS suspects in eastern Syria.
On Ukraine, Ankara will offer to support US efforts for a ceasefire and eventual peace agreement, Turkish officials said, pointing to Turkey’s past mediation roles. Fidan will also push for US pressure on Israel to allow unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza and work towards a lasting truce.
The visit reflects both long-standing strategic cooperation and emerging fractures in US-Turkey ties. While Ankara hopes to reset relations under Trump’s presidency, the rising criticism from US lawmakers highlights growing discomfort with Turkey’s domestic trajectory.
