President Trump is anticipated to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of his readiness to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 stealth fighter jet program. This move would reverse a ban imposed seven years prior by Trump himself due to national security concerns after Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. The shift, which comes as Trump heads to a NATO summit in Ankara, is reportedly aimed at pleasing Erdogan and is the result of weeks of behind-the-scenes work by national security officials to break the stalemate.
The potential policy change faces significant hurdles, notably opposition from the US Congress. A law passed in 2020 explicitly blocks the sale of F-35s unless the administration certifies that Turkey no longer possesses the Russian S-400 systems. US officials had previously feared that operating the Russian system alongside the F-35 could allow Moscow to gather intelligence on the aircraft's advanced capabilities, leading to Turkey's expulsion from the program in 2019, an action that cost the United States approximately $500 million. One proposed solution suggests that Turkey's S-400s, many of which are still in shipping containers, might be transferred to a third party, though the exact mechanism remains undecided.
Despite the legislative and security concerns, Vice President J.D. Vance recently indicated that Trump had instructed administration officials to find a way to provide Turkey with the jets. Trump hinted at this during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in June, stating he would bring Erdogan a gift that would make him "very happy." While the exact timing and details of the announcement remain uncertain, officials warn that Trump is unpredictable and could change his mind. Turkey has been actively lobbying for readmission to the F-35 program for years, but has resisted giving up its S-400 systems until now.
