President Trump is expected to tell Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan he is prepared to return Turkey to the F-35 stealth fighter program, according to a New York Times report citing four senior officials. The decision was reached after weeks of deliberations among national security officials aimed at breaking the impasse, but it remains unclear whether Congress will approve the move.
A New York Times report published early Tuesday morning, citing four senior U.S. officials, states that President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is ready to return Turkey to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and sell it the aircraft. The decision, the report says, was reached after weeks of internal discussions among national security officials aimed at breaking the long-standing impasse over Ankara's removal from the program after its 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
According to the NYT, Trump is expected for now at least to signal his intention to transfer the jets to Turkey, though the timeline for implementation remains unclear. The report does not indicate whether the administration will formally notify Congress, whose approval would be required for such a sale. The F-35 program is governed by U.S. law, including the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which was triggered by Turkey's S-400 purchase. Earlier this month, Trump himself said he would "likely" approve the sale, and Vice President Vance later said the administration would conduct a legal review of Ankara's eligibility. The Zioneer has reported extensively on the emerging policy shift, including analysis of its implications for Israel's regional air superiority.
Congressional reaction remains a key unknown; several key lawmakers have previously opposed restoring Turkey to the program so long as Ankara retains the S-400 system. The White House and the Turkish presidency have not yet commented on the report.
2 developments
- StrongTrump says he will likely approve F-35 and engine sale to Turkey
- StrongTrump expected to visit Turkey, meet Erdogan, hints at 'big bag of gifts' including F-35 deal
- DevelopingAnalysis: Erdogan's window for F-35s is now, deal appears increasingly realistic
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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