**US President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled intent to lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey since announcing the move at the July 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, citing his personal relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a desire to avoid sanctioning allies.** Sanctions, imposed in December 2020 under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act after Turkey's S-400 acquisition from Russia, remain in place as of mid-October 2026. Turkish officials have discussed "creative ideas" for resolving the underlying S-400 issue, while a US State Department statement on October 12 urged disposal of the system due to NATO compatibility concerns. Lifting requires a presidential waiver under CAATSA Section 236 with congressional review, creating procedural hurdles even with executive support. This dynamic shapes trader assessments of timelines, as bilateral defense cooperation, potential F-35 or KAAN engine access, and F-16 modernization depend on formal removal. Upcoming US-Turkey talks and the November 2026 midterms could influence momentum.