US and Iran Near Nuclear Deal as Ceasefire Extension Awaits Trump Approval 
Brazil Struggles to Stop Illegal Amazon Gold Mining as Gold Prices Surge 
Flavio Bolsonaro Meets Trump, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio Amid Brazil Political Crisis 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S. 
DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll Over Alleged Perjury 
US Designates Brazil’s PCC and Comando Vermelho as Global Terrorist Entities Ahead of FTO Listing 
Kentucky School District Secures $27 Million in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements 
UN Blacklists Israel and Russia Over Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Claims 
U.S. Lawmakers Back Ukraine’s Request for More Patriot Missiles Amid Rising Russian Attacks 
US Launches New Trade Investigation Into Vietnam Over Intellectual Property Concerns 
U.S.-China Taiwan Conflict Could Trigger Nuclear Escalation, IISS Warns 
US Condemns Russia’s Oreshnik Missile Strike, Warns Against New Attacks on Kyiv 
Baltic Drone Incidents Raise NATO Security Concerns 
US Tightens Ebola Controls as Congo Outbreak Sparks Global Concern 
Russia Prepares New Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine, Zelenskiy Warns 
Trump Nears Decision on Iran Ceasefire Extension as Key Disputes Remain 
The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, expressed optimism that long-standing defense-related sanctions on Turkey could be resolved by the end of 2025. Speaking to Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency, Barrack said he expects Presidents Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan to direct their officials to find a solution.
The sanctions, imposed in 2020 under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), were a response to Turkey’s purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. As a result, the U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, despite the country’s role as both a buyer and manufacturer.
"In my view, President Trump and President Erdogan will tell Secretary Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to fix this, find a way, and a resolution is possible by year-end," said Barrack, who also serves as Washington’s special envoy to Syria.
Barrack emphasized the improved U.S.-Turkey relationship since Trump’s return to the White House and noted that both leaders share mutual trust. He added that Ankara continues to view its removal from the F-35 program as unfair and has consistently called for either reinstatement or reimbursement.
The potential resolution of CAATSA sanctions would mark a major turning point in U.S.-Turkey defense ties and could reopen discussions on Turkey's role in NATO’s joint defense projects. The S-400 acquisition has long been a sticking point in U.S.-Turkey relations, and a political breakthrough would signal renewed strategic cooperation between the allies.
