Washington Lifts Turkish Sanctions, Reopens Debate on F-35 Jet Sales

During a NATO summit in Ankara this week, US President Donald Trump announced the removal of all sanctions against Turkey, a move that could clear the path for Ankara to acquire the F-35 stealth fighter and has raised concerns in Greece and Israel.

“We are going to be taking the sanctions off; it’s time to do that, OK. We don’t want to sanction friends; it’s very simple,” Trump told international media while seated beside his host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

US Ends Restrictions on Ankara

The president was referring to penalties imposed after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 missile defense system, a transaction that had barred Ankara from buying the American F-35. Washington maintained that the deal compromised sensitive technology.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, criticized any potential F-35 transfer to Turkey, cautioning that it would destabilize the regional balance of power.

“We are in a crisis between Israel and Turkey,” said Gallia Lindenstrauss of Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies. “I still would not characterize them as enemy states,” she added, “but the threat perception in both countries is growing, and there’s a security dilemma evolving between the two countries. What each one thinks it’s only doing for its defense is perceived by the other country as offensive.”

Turkey is pressing for swift delivery of six F-35s it has already funded. Despite Trump’s pledge, the legacy of the S-400 acquisition remains a hurdle. “This is not a political decision; that is actually a legal question,” noted Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the Ankara office of the German Marshall Fund.

Unluhisarcikli referenced the US National Defense Authorization Act, which blocks the F-35 sale until Turkey gives up possession of the S-400. “He (Trump) will, one way or another, need Congress’s approval, and this is what Israel and Greece are trying to prevent,” he said.

Nevertheless, Turkish and international reports on Friday indicated that Ankara plans to sell the S-400 systems to the United Arab Emirates. Moscow, which reportedly holds veto power over any resale, responded with caution. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the matter “extremely sensitive” and confirmed ongoing discussions with Ankara.

Challenges to F-35 Transfer

Even if Turkey divests the S-400, it faces significant opposition to the jet purchase. Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington this month to intensify his lobbying against the sale.

The Israeli ambassador in Washington has also coordinated with Greek and Cypriot counterparts to form a joint front against Ankara, as Greece and Cyprus share similar reservations rooted in their own disputes with Turkey.

Aaron Stein, president of the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, anticipates a difficult battle for Ankara. “This is about politics, and the politics of Turkey in the US Congress remains sour and not very good,” Stein warned. “There are vested interest groups — the Israelis, the Greeks and others — who don’t want to see an F-35 sale to Turkey and are pushing hard against it.”

Stein also highlighted the time constraint posed by the upcoming November congressional midterm elections. “Even if you get some movement on this (sale of F-35s), you will probably see a change of power in Congress, with the new government seated in January. So there is no pathway, in my opinion, for the F-35 to get through,” he predicted.

Before leaving the NATO summit, Trump appeared to moderate his position on the aircraft sale, indicating he was inclined to restrict it but had not reached a final decision. Nonetheless, Ankara may view his rhetorical support as a symbolic win.

“I don’t believe that these are mere empty words; they are expressions of political will to find a solution to the S-400 problem and to bring Turkey to the very centre of the transatlantic alliance,” Unluhisarcikli argued. “In a matter of a couple of years, Turkey moved from its position as being basically contained by both the United States and the European Union, to becoming a key ally for NATO and for Europe’s security,” he added.

Erdogan may indeed relish this symbolic triumph, particularly because even if the F-35 deal proceeds, analysts estimate it would take years before the jets are operational due to required pilot training and infrastructure. By then, Turkey aims to have its indigenous stealth aircraft, the Kaan, in flight.

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