Trump to Announce F-35 Jet Program Restoration with Turkey at NATO Summit

US President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit that he is prepared to restore Turkey’s access to the F-35 stealth fighter program, according to the New York Times. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday evening in Ankara, marks a potential breakthrough after years of friction over Turkey’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
While officials differed on the specifics of how Trump might navigate congressional and legal barriers, sources indicated a possible bilateral agreement, such as an exchange of letters, could formalize the arrangement. The White House has not yet commented on the report.
Turkey’s 2019 purchase of the S-400s strained relations with the US, leading to sanctions and its exclusion from the F-35 program. Congress reinforced this stance by mandating that Turkey must relinquish the S-400s before resuming F-35 sales—a condition Washington insists is critical to national security.
Despite ongoing tensions, bilateral ties have improved under Trump’s administration, evidenced by recent approvals for $700 million in F-35 jet engines to Turkey.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong opposition to the jet sales, arguing that Erdogan’s rhetoric against Israel poses a threat to regional stability. Netanyahu warned that supplying F-35s to Turkey could disrupt the Middle East’s power balance, which he claims relies on Israel’s air supremacy and US military presence in the region.
Relations between Turkey and Israel remain strained, with Erdogan frequently criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza following the 2023 Hamas attack. Netanyahu framed the F-35 sales as a strategic misstep that could undermine US and Israeli interests in the Middle East.

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