President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. might lift the ban on sales of advanced fighter jets to Turkey during a recent meeting [1].

The potential deal marks a significant shift in the long-standing dispute over Turkey's participation in the F-35 program, which was halted in 2019. Resolving this tension is critical for the stability of the NATO alliance as member states gather for the 2026 summit in Brussels [2, 3].

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the United States promised to deliver five F-35 aircraft [4]. He said that Trump also made an additional promise regarding the matter, stating that "Mr. Trump always stands by his word" [4].

The discussions took place at the White House on Thursday, June 20 [2]. The meeting served as a precursor to the NATO Summit 2026, which is scheduled for early July [2, 3].

Trump indicated that a final determination on the sales is still pending. "It's a decision we're going to make," Trump said, adding that the two leaders maintain a very good relationship [4].

While the two presidents discussed the aircraft, other U.S. officials have worked to manage the broader alliance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure wary allies of the U.S. commitment to NATO amid mixed signals from the White House [3].

The F-35 program remains a point of contention due to Turkey's previous security decisions, but the current signals suggest a move toward reconciliation between Washington and Ankara [1, 2].

“"We received the promise for the 5 aircraft and Mr. Trump also has made an additional promise to us on this matter"”

The potential restoration of F-35 sales to Turkey represents a strategic pivot by the Trump administration to prioritize bilateral relations with Ankara. By addressing a primary grievance of the Turkish government, the U.S. aims to stabilize a volatile NATO flank. However, the ambiguity regarding whether a formal agreement has been reached suggests that the final delivery of aircraft may still be contingent on further diplomatic concessions or security guarantees.