WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signaled openness to reversing a prior decision during his first term, potentially allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program. The remarks, made during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, suggest a shift in U.S. relations with Turkey following the 2019 exclusion of Ankara from the program due to its procurement of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
Trump emphasized the strength of U.S.-Turkey ties, stating that “many people… think why wouldn’t we do that?” He reiterated that the decision to reinstate Turkey’s participation is “something certainly we’d consider” and framed it as a matter of national interest.
Turkey had initially been a key partner in the F-35 program, planning to purchase 100 of the F-35A variants. The alliance ended in 2019 after Erdogan’s decision to acquire the S-400, which the U.S. and NATO viewed as a security risk. At the time, the Pentagon estimated losing Turkey’s F-35 production would cost Ankara $9 billion over the jet’s lifecycle, while repatriating production to the U.S. would incur $500–600 million in costs.
Trump also addressed ongoing sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), asserting that “we’re going to be taking the sanctions off.” He highlighted efforts by the Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury to lift restrictions, arguing that sanctioning allies is counterproductive.
However, legal barriers remain. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act bars the Pentagon from transferring F-35s to Turkey as long as it retains the S-400, per a 2025 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. Six Turkish-owned F-35s are still stored in the U.S., with $1.7 billion in payments unpaid.
Congressional resistance to lifting the ban has been bipartisan, with Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Foreign Relations Committee member, expressing concerns about reinstating Turkey’s access. Trump’s proposal will likely face scrutiny from lawmakers prioritizing security over diplomatic gestures.
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