President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he has not yet made a final decision on the sale of F-35 stealth fighters to Turkey, but his tendency is to approve, citing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's assistance. 'He did everything. He helped us in so many different ways,' Trump said, according to Abu Ali Express.
President Trump's latest remarks on Wednesday evening appear to tilt toward approving the F-35 sale to Turkey, with explicit praise for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "He did everything. He helped us in so many different ways," Trump said, according to Abu Ali Express. The statement marks the latest shift in a series of contradictory signals from the administration over the past two weeks.
The Zioneer has tracked the following sequence: On Tuesday, initial reports by Reuters and The New York Times indicated Trump planned to restore Turkey's access to the F-35 during the NATO summit. Later Tuesday, Trump confirmed Turkey would receive the jets, and then—in a reversal—stated he had not yet made a decision. On Wednesday evening, Trump now indicates a tendency to approve, citing Erdogan's assistance.
The new comments come amid a broader pattern of mixed signals. As The Zioneer reported on June 25, Trump said he would likely approve the sale. On July 7, he said placing F-35s in Turkey's hands would destroy the Middle East's balance and he would not proceed. The administration's internal review is ongoing, with Vice President Vance having ordered a review earlier. A close associate of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Nathan Eshel, said on Wednesday that despite Trump's statements, he does not believe the jets will ultimately reach Turkey.
The sale remains a contentious issue, with opposition from Israel, Greece, and some U.S. lawmakers. No final decision has been announced, and Trump's comments stop short of a definitive commitment.
4 developments
- StrongTrump says he will likely approve F-35 and engine sale to Turkey
- StrongTrump says he would not sell F-35s to Turkey, warns of regional imbalance
- DevelopingVance says US may sell F-35s to Turkey, needs legal review
- StrongTrump expected to visit Turkey, meet Erdogan, hints at 'big bag of gifts' including F-35 deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake