U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that his administration is preparing to remove U.S. sanctions on Turkey, saying the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with allied nations.
According to a Fox News post on social media, Trump said his administration is working closely with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials to make the policy change a reality.
“It’s time to remove U.S. sanctions on Turkey,” Trump said, according to Fox News.
The president added that his administration is coordinating the effort with Rubio and other top officials responsible for U.S. foreign policy.
“There’s plenty of people who can sanction… We don’t want to have sanctioned friends,” Trump said, according to the Fox News social media post.
Trump’s remarks signal a potential shift in Washington’s approach toward Turkey, a longstanding NATO ally whose relationship with the United States has been strained in recent years over a range of political, security, and defense issues.
While the president indicated that work is underway to lift the sanctions, he did not provide a timeline or specify which sanctions would be removed.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to reassess U.S. foreign policy with an emphasis on strengthening strategic partnerships while reducing tensions with key allies.
Neither the U.S. Department of State nor Turkish officials immediately released additional details regarding the proposed policy change. Further information is expected as discussions between the two governments continue.