President Donald Trump signaled that the United States could lift its ban on F-35 fighter jet sales to Turkey this week.
The move represents a potential shift in diplomatic relations between the two NATO allies, weighing military cooperation against Turkey's internal human rights record.
Trump said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a “great leader” [1]. This praise coincided with the NATO summit held in Ankara on July 7, 2026 [2]. While some reports indicate a definitive lift of sanctions, other accounts state that the U.S. is merely considering the move [3].
Earlier this month, on June 24, 2026, Erdoğan said he would most likely hold bilateral talks with Trump during the Ankara visit [4]. These discussions followed previous meetings between the two leaders at the White House in Washington, D.C. [5].
The potential restoration of F-35 sales comes as Turkey continues a crackdown on journalists and civil-society figures [6]. This internal instability has long complicated Turkey's relationship with Western allies, though Trump appears focused on improving the bilateral partnership.
Turkey has sought the advanced stealth fighters to modernize its air force and secure its regional interests. The ban was previously maintained due to Turkey's purchase of Russian military equipment, a point of contention that the current administration is now revisiting [5].
President Erdoğan has pushed for closer ties with the U.S. to ensure Turkey's role within NATO remains influential. The outcome of these bilateral talks will determine if the F-35 ban is formally revoked or remains under review [4].
“Trump described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a “great leader.””
The potential sale of F-35 jets to Turkey suggests a transactional approach to diplomacy where strategic military alignment and personal rapport between leaders take precedence over human rights benchmarks. By signaling a lift of the ban despite Turkey's crackdown on civil society, the U.S. may be prioritizing NATO's cohesion and Turkey's geopolitical role in the Middle East over the promotion of democratic norms.
