US President Donald Trump announced that the United States plans to lift sanctions on Turkiye and will consider allowing Ankara to purchase F 35 fighter jets, marking a possible breakthrough in relations between the two NATO allies.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump confirmed that his administration intends to remove sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The restrictions were introduced in 2020 after Turkiye acquired the Russian S 400 air defense system, a move that also led to Ankara’s removal from the F 35 fighter jet program.
Trump told reporters that lifting the sanctions is now part of the administration’s plan and added that a final decision on the F 35 sale would be made after further discussions. He also said trade and regional security would remain key topics during his meeting with Erdogan.
Despite Trump’s positive remarks, significant legal and congressional challenges remain. Current US law prevents Turkiye from rejoining the F 35 program while it continues operating the Russian made S 400 missile system, which Washington believes poses security risks to advanced American military technology.
President Erdogan welcomed Trump’s comments and expressed hope that negotiations would produce a favorable outcome, allowing Turkiye to once again participate in the fighter jet program.
During the meeting, Trump also discussed the ongoing Russia Ukraine war, revealing that he recently held separate phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said both leaders appeared interested in reaching a peace agreement and expressed optimism that the conflict could be resolved in the near future.
Trump’s visit to Turkiye marks the first official visit by a sitting US president in more than a decade. The meeting highlighted renewed efforts to strengthen strategic cooperation between Washington and Ankara despite years of disagreements over defense policy and regional security.
