President Donald Trump said he is considering selling U.S. F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and potentially lifting sanctions on the country [1, 2, 3].

The move would signal a significant shift in U.S. defense policy toward Ankara and could alter the strategic balance within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. By revisiting the sale of these advanced aircraft, the administration is prioritizing a bilateral relationship with Turkey over previous security restrictions.

Trump said the comments during the first day of the NATO summit in Istanbul [1, 2]. He framed the potential sale as a gesture to strengthen ties with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and reward Turkey as a "loyal" NATO ally [1, 4].

Addressing the technical requirements of existing Turkish aircraft, Trump said, "We have an obligation to maintain the engines of planes Turkey has bought" [2]. He said the administration is weighing the benefits of the deal, stating, "It is a decision we’re going to make…the people sitting here, thinks why wouldn’t we?" [2].

However, the proposal faces opposition from key regional partners. Benjamin Netanyahu said, "I oppose the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey" [3]. This opposition highlights the tension between the U.S. desire to bolster its relationship with Turkey and the security concerns of other allies in the region.

The F-35 program has been a point of contention for years, primarily due to Turkey's procurement of alternative defense systems. The current consideration to lift sanctions suggests a willingness to overlook previous disputes in exchange for diplomatic cooperation within the alliance.

“"It is a decision we’re going to make…the people sitting here, thinks why wouldn’t we?"”

The potential sale of F-35s to Turkey represents a pivot toward transactional diplomacy within NATO. By offering high-tier military hardware and the removal of sanctions, the U.S. is leveraging defense trade to secure Turkish cooperation, despite strong objections from allies like Israel who view the transfer of such advanced technology to Ankara as a strategic risk.