US President Donald Trump met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where he announced that the US would lift sanctions on Turkey. This opens up the possibility of selling F-35 jets to Turkey, despite objections from Israel.
During their conversation at the presidential palace, Trump indicated his intention to lift restrictions imposed on Turkey due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system.
At a joint press conference, when questioned about the possibility of selling F-35 jets to Turkey and the associated legal constraints, Trump remarked that his administration has cultivated a stronger relationship with Turkey, which he described as having demonstrated considerable loyalty to the United States.
Erdoğan expressed optimism regarding a positive outcome from Trump. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the United States to refrain from selling advanced military technology, including F-35 fighter jets, to Turkey. He emphasised that such a sale could disrupt the current balance of power in the Middle East, which relies on Israeli air superiority and the ongoing American military presence in the region.
In response to inquiries regarding Turkey’s possession of Russian defence systems, Trump said that he had “absolutely no concerns whatsoever.” The purchase of the Russian S-400 system in 2019 had previously strained Turkey’s relations with Washington. At that time, Trump imposed sanctions and removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme, despite Turkey’s involvement in the aircraft’s production.
However, for any potential sale of the jets, President Trump would need to circumvent the provisions of congressional legislation. When questioned about the previous circumvention of Congress’s approval to sell GE F110 jet engines, he asserted that the US has a responsibility to provide maintenance and support for military aircraft sold to Turkey.
Furthermore, Trump highlighted the fact that Turkey chose not to involve itself in the conflict with Iran, maintaining a more neutral stance. He depicted Erdoğan as a “strong, globally respected leader,” noting the positive rapport between them, which may stem from Erdoğan’s robust leadership. During the meeting on Tuesday, President Erdoğan bestowed high honours on President Trump, including a formal salute and a military inspection.
