Trump expected to back possible F-35 sale to Turkey at NATO summit
US President Donald Trump is expected to support a possible sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey during the NATO summit in Ankara, according to a report cited in the supplied material. The move would mark a potential shift in a long-running defence dispute between Washington and Ankara. It would also test the limits of US law, congressional restrictions and wider alliance politics.
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The issue centres on Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, which led to its removal from the F-35 programme in 2019. The supplied material says the United States later imposed sanctions on a major Turkish defence company in 2020. Congress also passed legislation barring F-35 sales to Turkey while it retains the S-400 system, citing concerns that the Russian platform could compromise the security of the fifth-generation aircraft.
One proposal that has gained traction in recent weeks would involve transferring the S-400 to a third country. However, no agreement has been reached, and the material says it remains unclear whether Russia would approve such a move because of end-user restrictions attached to its defence exports. US Vice President JD Vance has said the administration is reviewing whether Turkey has met the legal requirements needed to return to the F-35 programme, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team are examining the required certifications under US law.
The possible sale matters because it sits at the intersection of defence technology, sanctions policy and NATO cohesion. The F-35 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the US arsenal, and any transfer to Turkey would require resolving concerns that have blocked the deal for years. It would also carry implications for relations with Israel, which has voiced sharp opposition to the prospect, according to the supplied report.
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The latest discussion comes amid signs of warmer ties between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since Trump returned to office last year. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last week that Erdogan and Trump share a strong political will to remove US sanctions on Turkey, although no timeline has been announced. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has also described recent talks between the two countries as the most fruitful in nearly a decade, according to the material.
Trump had already hinted at a possible breakthrough last month when asked whether he had any gifts for Turkey, saying he would probably do something that would make them very happy. Even so, the legal and political obstacles remain unresolved, and the material does not say whether Russia would agree to any transfer of the S-400. What happens at the summit, and whether the administration can satisfy congressional and legal requirements, will determine whether the proposal moves beyond discussion.
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