President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey is "certainly on the table" [1].
The move signals a potential reversal of long-standing U.S. defense restrictions and economic penalties against a key NATO ally. This shift could reshape security dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean and stabilize the bilateral relationship between Washington and Ankara.
Speaking at the kickoff of the 36th NATO Summit [1] in Ankara, Trump said that the U.S. would consider selling the advanced aircraft to the Turkish government [4]. The proposal comes as Trump expressed an intention to lift multi-year CAATSA economic sanctions [2] that have targeted Turkey for several years.
Trump framed the potential policy changes as a response to the strategic partnership between the two nations. "Turkey is a loyal ally and we are looking at ways to lift the sanctions that have been in place for years," Trump said [2].
The CAATSA sanctions were originally imposed following Turkey's purchase of Russian missile systems. By offering to remove these penalties and restore the F-35 program, the U.S. administration is attempting to normalize relations with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan [2].
While some reports indicated that Trump was merely expected to express readiness to allow the sale [3], the president said that the U.S. would consider the transaction [4]. The U.S. ambassador to Ankara said that the administration is moving closer to resolving the ban on the fighter jets [5].
“"We would consider selling F‑35 jets to Turkey."”
The potential restoration of F-35 sales and the removal of CAATSA sanctions represent a strategic pivot intended to bring Turkey closer to U.S. security interests. By removing economic and military barriers, the U.S. aims to reduce Turkey's reliance on Russian defense technology and strengthen the cohesion of the NATO alliance during a period of global instability.
