During the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump suggested he might consider lifting the ban on sales of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Turkey was previously a partner in the F-35 program but was removed after acquiring Russia's S-400 air defense system, which raised concerns about compatibility and security. In 2020, Congress formalized the ban on F-35 sales to Turkey until it relinquished the S-400 systems.
At the summit, Trump expressed a positive view of his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stating that Turkey has been loyal and that he is considering the sale of F-35s. Erdogan indicated that he believed an agreement had been reached regarding the jets.
However, there is significant opposition in Congress regarding the sale, with bipartisan concerns about Turkey's acquisition of Russian military technology. Senators and representatives have voiced that F-35 sales should not proceed until Turkey resolves its issues with the S-400 systems. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker emphasized that U.S. law requires careful consideration before any sales can occur, and retired Admiral James Stavridis suggested that a technical solution might exist to separate the two systems.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to the sale, citing Turkey's support for groups hostile to the U.S. and its actions against political dissent. Trump has faced criticism from Netanyahu but defended his approach, claiming he has prevented Turkey from engaging in conflict with Israel. Despite ongoing discussions, it appears that any potential sale of F-35s to Turkey will take time and careful negotiation.