Erdogan confident he can sway Trump to skip sanctions
The two presidents will meet at the G-20 summit to discuss a standoff over Turkey’s purchase of a Russian antiaircraft system that obliges the US government to introduce punishing economic sanctions on its NATO partner.
![NATO-SUMMIT/ U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend the start of the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium July 11, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC117DD2EDF0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2019/06/RTX6APIPP.jpg/RTX6APIPP.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=jRU9X992)
ISTANBUL — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed confidence on Thursday he will be able to forestall a showdown with the United States over Turkey’s purchase of advanced Russian weapons when he and President Donald Trump meet this week at the G-20 summit in Japan.
Turkey faces economic sanctions and other punitive measures by its NATO partner should it take delivery next month of the $2.5 billion S-400 Triumph missile system it says it needs for self-defense.