President Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, reversing a ban he himself imposed in 2020. The potential sale was discussed during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit. Trump stated he had “no concerns” about the possibility and suggested Turkey had been more “loyal” than many other countries.
The United States previously suspended Turkey from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of Russian air defense systems, a move that prompted sanctions in 2020. Bloomberg reported Trump would “certainly” consider allowing Turkey back into the program. The Hill and Axios both noted Trump signaled openness to selling the jets during his meeting with Erdogan, while the Washington Examiner stated he claimed he was weighing the possibility.
The decision has drawn pushback, but Trump shrugged off concerns about reversing course. No sources reported on specific conditions attached to a potential sale, though Trump indicated a willingness to discuss it. The Straits Times noted that alongside considering F-35 sales, Trump also said he would lift sanctions against Turkey.
While left-leaning outlets focused on the reversal of previous policy and potential security implications related to Russia, right-leaning coverage emphasized Trump’s assessment of Turkish loyalty. Not in dispute is the fact that Trump has expressed a willingness to reconsider selling F-35 jets to Turkey despite prior objections. The open question remains whether any formal conditions will be attached to such a sale or if it will proceed without addressing initial concerns regarding Russian technology.
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