President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will lift sanctions on Turkey during the first day of the NATO summit in Ankara [2].
The move represents a significant shift in diplomatic relations between the two allies, potentially resolving a years-long dispute over military procurement and strategic partnerships.
Trump met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss the reversal of the penalties [1]. The U.S. government had imposed the sanctions in 2020 [1] after Turkey purchased a Russian-made S-400 air-defence missile system [1].
Beyond the removal of sanctions, Trump said he is open to selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara [4]. The decision to resume these sales remains under consideration, as the administration weighs the strategic implications of the S-400 system's presence in Turkey [4].
The announcement comes as both leaders seek to stabilize the bilateral relationship during the summit on July 7, 2026 [2]. The S-400 acquisition had previously strained ties, leading to Turkey's removal from the F-35 program due to security concerns regarding the Russian missile system.
Trump praised Erdoğan during the proceedings, saying the move is a step toward stronger cooperation within the alliance [3]. The lifting of the 2020 restrictions is expected to ease economic, and military pressures on the Turkish government [1].
“The United States will lift sanctions on Turkey”
This policy reversal suggests a prioritization of the U.S.-Turkey strategic partnership over the strict enforcement of penalties regarding Russian military hardware. By potentially restoring F-35 sales, the U.S. may be attempting to pull Turkey closer to NATO's orbit and reduce its reliance on Russian defense technology, though it risks creating a precedent for other allies who purchase non-Western equipment.
