President Trump repeats pledge to lift CAATSA sanctions

President Trump on October 4, 2026 reiterated that he would lift sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), a pledge with diplomatic and defence consequences.

Promise to lift CAATSA sanctions

Officials said the president reiterated the commitment in public remarks and that the White House views the measure as part of broader bilateral ties. CAATSA gives Congress tools to impose sanctions related to major defence purchases from adversary states; measures tied to past Turkish purchases have been a recurring source of U.S.–Turkey tension.

If implemented, lifting CAATSA-related restrictions would reduce a legal obstacle to closer defence cooperation and could ease congressional scrutiny over sales and interoperability, officials said. Diplomats in Ankara and Washington frequently cite sanctions policy as a gating item in negotiations over procurement and security cooperation; the pledge signals an intent to move that file.

The announcement is likely to be watched for its political as well as practical effects: lawmakers retain the authority to press for penalties, and Turkish procurement timetables and defence contracts depend on clearer U.S. policy. Watch whether President Trump follows through by December 31, 2026; officials said that any concrete step to rescind measures would be the decisive test of the pledge.