Trump Floats F-35 Sale to Turkey and Sanctions Relief During NATO Visit

US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and lifting US sanctions imposed on the country. He made the remarks during a visit to Turkey on Tuesday, where he met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a high-profile display of warming ties between the two NATO allies. The comments immediately raised questions about whether Washington could reverse restrictions that have been in place since Turkey bought a Russian air defence system.

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Trump said Turkey had been "much more loyal than other countries" and described the F-35 as "the best plane by far." He added that the United States would be "taking the sanctions off" Turkey and said his secretary of state and treasury secretary were working on the issue. He did not explain how any sale would proceed under current US law, and the row is likely to face resistance in Congress. The visit was notable because Trump became the first US president to visit Turkey in 11 years.

The issue is tied to Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system in 2019, which led Washington to impose sanctions in 2020 on a major Turkish defence company and remove Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter programme. Ankara has long sought to return to the programme and to see the sanctions lifted. The possible shift matters because it would affect not only bilateral defence ties but also the wider balance inside NATO, where Turkey remains a strategically important member on the alliance's southern flank.

The diplomatic setting also underscored the political sensitivity of any change. Trump and Erdogan were welcomed with a state ceremony, and both leaders publicly praised one another. That tone contrasted with years of strain over defence procurement, sanctions and Turkey's ties with Russia.

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The meeting suggested an effort to reset relations, even as the underlying disputes over air defence systems and advanced fighter technology remain unresolved. The prospect of an F-35 sale drew a sharp response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said such a move would "destroy" the balance of power in the Middle East. He argued that Turkey had "aggressive aspirations" and warned that giving Ankara that capability would lead to more aggression.

His comments highlight how any US decision on Turkey's access to advanced weapons would be watched closely beyond Washington and Ankara, especially by regional governments concerned about military parity. What remains unclear is whether the White House can overcome legal and political barriers to any sanctions relief or aircraft sale. Trump did not set out a timetable, and he gave no details on how the administration would address congressional objections.

The next stage will depend on whether US officials turn the president's comments into a formal policy proposal and whether Turkey's long-running dispute with Washington over the S-400 system can be bridged.

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