U.S. sanctions on Turkey's defense sector have eased under President Donald Trump and their lifting is likely, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday.
"We can easily say there is a relaxation" of the sanctions, he stated to reporters on the plane returning him from the European summit in Albania.
There has been a "more constructive" dialogue with the Trump administration, added Erdogan, saying Turkey will "overcome" this sanctions process "much more quickly."
In 2020, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey, their NATO ally, due to Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
This decision, which deteriorated relations between the two countries, was made under a 2017 law passed by Congress to "counter America's adversaries through sanctions" (CAATSA), and to limit Russia's influence in the defense sector.
Washington also excluded Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program, stating that the presence of the S-400 system would allow Russia to gather information on the aircraft's capabilities.
According to Erdogan, Turkey raised the issue of sanctions with Trump and his new envoy to Ankara, Tom Barrack.
"With my friend Trump at the helm of the country, we have established more open, constructive, and sincere communication on these issues," he added, noting that Turkey appreciated "every positive step in this direction."
"I believe we will overcome the sanctions much faster. As two great NATO allies, there should be no restrictions or obstacles in the defense field between us," he stated.
Turkey's partnership with the United States is "vital for establishing stability in our region and the world," he affirmed.
In March, the Turkish president discussed with Trump the necessity of finalizing a deal allowing Turkey to purchase American F-16 fighter jets and be readmitted into the F-35 aircraft development program.
Turkey seeks to modernize its air force and also wishes to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, built by a consortium comprising Germany, the UK, Spain, and Italy.