ANKARA (Realist English). The meeting between the US and Turkish presidents on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara marked a breakthrough in the long-standing dispute over F-35 fighter jets.
Donald Trump stated that he was ready to restore Turkey’s access to the fifth-generation fighter programme, from which it was excluded in 2019 after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 air defence systems.
Erdogan, for his part, expressed confidence in an imminent “positive resolution” and said he had received a “separate promise” from Trump regarding the supply of five aircraft.
‘A Decision Will Be Made’: What the Leaders Said
Speaking to reporters before the bilateral meeting, Trump did not hide his intentions. “It’s a decision we’re going to make,” he said, calling Turkey “in many ways more loyal than other countries.” According to the US president, the issue of selling F-35s is “definitely something we would consider.”
The Turkish leader confirmed his optimistic outlook. Erdogan said the F-35 issue “is not new to us” and that “with God’s help, I believe a favourable decision on the F-35 will be made at this leaders’ summit.” He also praised Trump for his consistency: “President Trump always keeps his word.”
Later, Erdogan revealed details: according to him, the US side had already promised to supply five aircraft. “Trump gave us a separate promise on this issue,” the Turkish leader stressed.
Context: Return After Seven Years of Isolation
In 2019, the Trump administration excluded Turkey from the F-35 programme after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 air defence systems. Washington argued that the Russian equipment was incompatible with NATO systems and could compromise the fighter’s stealth technology.
Congress even passed a law banning the sale of F-35s to Turkey as long as it retains the S-400s. Ankara, for its part, insisted that the S-400 did not pose a threat and offered to set up a joint commission to study the issue.
The situation has begun to shift in recent weeks. The Trump administration notified Congress of its intention to sell Turkey F-110 engines for its own KAAN fighter as part of a $700 million deal. A month ago, Trump, when asked about Ankara’s requests, said he would “probably do something that would make them very happy.” Expectations were confirmed: according to The New York Times, during the meeting Trump was expected to signal his readiness to restore Turkey’s access to the programme.
Israeli Opposition and Ankara’s Position
The only voice to publicly oppose the deal was Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Fox News interview that F-35s should not be given to “a regime infected with the Muslim Brotherhood” and that “Turkey is run by a man who openly calls for the destruction of Israel.” In his view, this would upset the balance of power in the Middle East, which is guaranteed by Israel’s air superiority.
Official Ankara responded immediately. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry called Israel’s statements a “disinformation campaign” and “systematic propaganda.” The statement also stressed that “baseless accusations” could not conceal “the genocide in Gaza, the occupation and annexation policies” pursued by Netanyahu’s government.
Will vs Legislative Barriers
Despite the president’s political will, Turkey’s return to the F-35 programme is fraught with legal complexities. Congress had previously imposed direct restrictions on the sale of fighters to Ankara, and lifting them would require either legislative changes or complex legal manoeuvres.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration may use an exchange of letters between the leaders to bypass these restrictions.
In addition, the Turkish side is also seeking US support for its national project — the KAAN fighter. During the meeting, Erdogan intended to discuss with Trump the supply of engines for this programme.
The Ankara summit demonstrated Trump’s determination to reconsider his approach to Turkey, despite opposition from Congress and Israel. The question now is whether political will can overcome legislative obstacles. As Erdogan himself summed up, the meeting with Trump “gave us strength.”
