President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his administration intends to lift U.S. sanctions on Turkey and signaled openness to proceeding with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets. These statements mark a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, years after Turkey was removed from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of a Russian S-400 air defense system.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a meeting at the NATO summit, Trump stated, "I can tell you we're going to be taking the sanctions off, OK? It's time. We don't sanction friends."
When questioned about the potential sale of F-35 jets, Trump indicated he was amenable, stating, "Many people, including the people sitting right here thinks why wouldn't we do that? Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal." He dismissed concerns regarding Turkey's continued possession of the S-400 system, saying, "I have no concerns about anything."
The remarks suggest a move to restore defense ties with Turkey, following efforts to bolster military cooperation after a period of strained relations. Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 after accepting delivery of the S-400 system. At the time, the U.S. argued that operating the Russian-made system alongside the advanced F-35 could compromise sensitive U.S. technology. This led to sanctions imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Congressional opposition has been a significant hurdle to restoring Turkey's access to the F-35. Bipartisan lawmakers have argued against providing the advanced aircraft while Turkey maintains the S-400 and pursues policies perceived as contrary to U.S. interests. Beyond political objections, legal restrictions also present challenges. While the president has authority over sanctions, Congress enacted specific bars on transferring F-35 aircraft to Turkey without executive certification that Ankara has met certain requirements related to the Russian missile system.
In the days prior to the meeting, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers urged Trump not to proceed with an F-35 sale, asserting that doing so without satisfying legal requirements would violate U.S. law and endanger national security. Concerns have also been raised by lawmakers regarding Turkey's continued S-400 possession, its support for Hamas, and ongoing tensions with fellow NATO allies Greece and Cyprus.
The Pentagon previously stated that the S-400's radar could potentially gather intelligence on the F-35's stealth capabilities, enabling Russia to better detect and counter the aircraft. In 2019, the White House stated that "the F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities." Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord also warned that allowing both systems to be operated by Turkey would jeopardize the F-35 program's security due to the aircraft's reliance on stealth technology.