President Donald Trump is expected to support the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during his visit to Ankara for a NATO summit, according to a report. The move would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy, as Turkey has faced CAATSA sanctions for its acquisition of the Russian S-400 system.
A new report Tuesday evening, July 7, indicates that President Donald Trump is expected to support the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during his visit to Ankara for a NATO summit. The report adds specification to a day of rapid developments: earlier, Trump had said he would lift sanctions, and Erdogan confirmed a promise of five aircraft. The report now ties the expected announcement to the Ankara visit.
The day's thread began with reports at 08:36 Jerusalem, when Trump stated he would consider selling F-35s and called Turkey "loyal," while Erdogan claimed the U.S. had promised five aircraft. By 16:19, Erdogan confirmed the promise of five F-35s in a direct statement. At 16:27, Trump said the U.S. would lift CAATSA sanctions, as reported by Channel 12. At 16:31, Reuters and The New York Times reported that Trump planned to restore Turkey's F-35 access during the summit. Corroboration evolved from a single source (Erdogan) to multiple independent news outlets and on-record statements from both leaders.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, July 3, Trump had hinted at a "big bag of gifts" for Turkey, including a possible F-35 deal. The expected move represents a significant shift in U.S.-Turkey relations, strained since Turkey's 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 system, which led to its removal from the F-35 program and the imposition of CAATSA sanctions. Trump's support aligns with his broader approach of prioritizing bilateral ties with NATO allies.
Congressional approval remains uncertain, as the sale faces legal hurdles under CAATSA. The report does not specify the number of aircraft or the timeline for the sale, which is expected to be discussed during the NATO summit.
24 developments
- StrongAnalysis: Trump's renewed push for F-35 sale to Turkey threatens Israel's air supremacy in the Mediterranean
- StrongTrump says he will consider selling F-35s to Turkey
- StrongIsrael's diplomatic campaign to block F-35 sale to Turkey intensifies
- DevelopingSegal: Turkey has not earned trust — F-35 sale to Erdogan endangers Israel's security
Source and signal
- Internal intake