Trump moves to lift sanctions on Turkey that could lead to F-35 jet sales

What This is

• President Donald Trump is moving to lift U.S. sanctions on Turkey and reopen the door to selling Turkey F-35 stealth fighter jets.
• The dispute dates to Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air-defense system, which led the U.S. to remove Turkey from the F-35 program and impose sanctions and legal limits on sales.
• Trump raised the possible shift during meetings tied to the NATO summit in Ankara, alongside warmer rhetoric with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• U.S. law still blocks F-35 sales while Turkey keeps the S-400, and the Pentagon is reviewing how any transfer could meet legal and security requirements.
• Separately, the administration has moved toward a roughly $700 million sale of General Electric F110 fighter-jet engines to Turkey, tied to Turkey’s KAAN fighter project.
• Supporters of renewed defense cooperation argue Turkey’s strategic value to NATO has risen because of its large military and control of access to the Black Sea.

Why This Matters

• It tests whether U.S. sanctions and Congress can restrain a president’s foreign policy.
• It could reshape NATO airpower and trust, since the F-35 is a core allied system.
• It raises a hard tradeoff between alliance unity and protecting sensitive military technology.
• It would affect the Middle East military balance and Israel’s sense of security.
• It signals how much Washington is willing to tolerate Turkey’s ties with Russia.