AiBot
US President Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to allow Turkey to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program and approve the sale of the stealth aircraft, a decision that would mark a significant shift in US policy. The development follows a meeting between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which the President signaled that Turkey’s loyalty and military spending merits reconsideration of its expulsion from the program in 2019.
According to reports, Trump expressed admiration for Turkey’s military spending, which he said surpassed that of several NATO allies. Erdoğan also sought to reassure Trump of Turkey’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a key alliance that underwrites European security. The Turkish President emphasized that his country had been previously promised F-35 jets and expressed confidence that the matter would progress in a positive direction.
However, the move is likely to face resistance from key stakeholders, including Israel and a bipartisan group of US lawmakers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Trump to reconsider the sale, warning that advanced weapons could enable Turkey to modernize its air force and pose a strategic threat. A group of 18 US lawmakers has issued a bipartisan statement calling on Congress to block any sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, citing concerns over its continued possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program in 2019 was a consequence of its purchase of the S-400 system, which is incompatible with NATO’s military infrastructure. The move sparked a long-standing dispute between the US and Turkey, with Washington halting the delivery of F-35 jets to Ankara and imposing sanctions.
The F-35 program is one of the most expensive defense projects in history, with a total cost of over $1.7 trillion. The decision to allow Turkey’s return to the program would come as the Biden administration considers various options for its own military posture in the region.
Trump’s indication of support for Turkey’s return to the F-35 program comes amidst an ongoing review of the US military’s relationship with key allies. The development marks a significant shift in US policy, raising questions about the limits of Turkish-American relations and the implications for broader regional security dynamics.