Trump, eyeing F-35 reversal for Turkey, faces growing pressure ahead of NATO summit
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As President Trump heads to Turkey for this week’s NATO summit, he is facing growing pushback from Republicans — and Israel — who oppose admitting the ally back into the F-35 fighter jet program, as long as Ankara holds Russian air defense systems.
The president has said he is planning to bring a gift bag for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and The New York Times reported Monday night that Trump plans to signal his intent to resume sales of the F-35s, though what he’ll say and how he’ll get around Congress remains unclear.
The move would reverse Trump’s ban on Turkey’s involvement in the F-35 program during his first term.
The Trump administration has already given a green light for the sale of the F110 fighter jet engines Turkey covets and wrapped up — with little punishment — a major lawsuit against one of Turkey’s largest banks, Halkbank, for its subversion of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relationship with Trump has been badly damaged during the Iran war, sent a message to the president through Fox News on Monday to oppose an F-35 transfer.
“The other thing I’d like to say, because we’re on the verge of the president’s going to Turkey … I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets,” Netanyahu said.
“Because that’ll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority, and also by, I think … America’s posture in the Middle East.”
Republicans and Democrats are also raising alarm.
“We write today to express deep concern about any effort to sell F-35s to Turkey,” a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote to Trump on July 2.
“With President Erdogan’s continued aggression toward our greatest partners along with his troubling defense partnerships with our adversaries, it is not in the best interest of our country to sell them F-35s.”
The letter was signed by Republican Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Jeff Hurd (Colo.), Max Miller (Ohio) and Young Kim (Calif.), in addition to Democratic Reps. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Gabe Amo (R.I.), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) and Brad Sherman (Calif.)
The F-35s, a fifth-generation fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin that can fly about 1,200 miles, are one of the most advanced planes in the world that can conduct long-range strike missions, gather intelligence and lead attacks with a group of drones.
The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board warned the potential sale of the F-35s would give Russia and China a “window” into U.S. technology.
“Allowing the two systems to work together would amount to letting Vladimir Putin conduct target practice on the free world’s pilots,” the board wrote in a piece last week, referring to the Russian president.
“Congress also won’t like the sale, and the President has far better uses for his political capital,” the editorial board added.
Trump removed Turkey from the F-35 program during his first term after Erdogan accepted delivery of a Russian S-400 air and missile defense system, despite warnings from the U.S.
Trump’s sanctions were compelled by Congress, under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which prohibited countries from purchasing Russian military articles.
Congress further codified Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Bill text prohibits transfer of the fifth-generation fighter jets unless the administration can certify that Ankara “no longer possesses” the S-400 system, materials or anything associated with its functions.
But last month, Vice President Vance indicated that the Pentagon is reviewing how the Trump administration could sell the F-35s to Turkey, telling reporters that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “and the entire team are reviewing this right now, because there are certain things that we have to certify have happened … in order to comply with American law.”
“The president has asked us to do that,” the vice president said.
Trump then chimed in, saying, “We will work it out.”
The Pentagon did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
A senior GOP congressional aide told The Hill on Monday that the administration has sent no indication to Congress that the State Department is planning on lifting CAATSA sanctions.
Sherman, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, said he doesn’t think the president could go around Congress on selling F-35s.
“I think the statute is pretty clear that as long as Turkey holds on to its S-400s, they declare that they’re going to do that, it is illegal to sell” the fighter planes, Sherman said in a Monday interview with The Hill, adding he was also concerned about the F110 engine sale.
Even if Turkey got rid of the S-400s, Sherman said he would give the F-35 sale another look but would still be inclined to oppose it as long as Turkey continues to occupy Northern Cyprus and maintains close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Every new situation requires a new analysis, but the S-400s is just the biggest of the reasons not to transfer.”
J.C. Lintzenich, the former national security adviser for Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), said floated solutions like Turkey moving the S-400 into a warehouse are a nonstarter.
“The issue isn’t just shooting missiles,” he said. “It’s the tracking, the telemetry, and what the system can learn about advanced NATO aircraft.”
But Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk on Friday that both Erdogan and Trump have a “strong will” to lift CAATSA sanctions.
“In administrative terms, there are no problems in terms of willpower within the administrations. But we will see how the process unfolds in the U.S. Congress,” Fidan said.
Netanyahu, in his interview with Fox and Friends, laid out a long list of grievances against Erdogan and his top officials.
“Turkey is a great country, but it’s governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel,” he said. Netanyahu condemned Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus, military threats against Greece, a member of NATO, support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and Turkish officials calling for the destruction of the Jewish State.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi last month called for the “liberation” of Jerusalem, and Fidan called Israel a “burden that humanity can no longer bear” — comments that Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said amounted to inciting genocide.
One European diplomat argued that focus on the F-35s was misplaces, as the $700 million military sale of the F110 jet engines posed a greater danger. The sale allows Turkey to build up its own domestic fleet of fifth-generation fighter jets, the KAAN, and expand its military customers across the world, the diplomat said.
Turkey has increased its arms exports over the course of 2021 and 2024, making it the 11th largest arms exporter and representing a 122 percent increase in exports compared to the previous five years, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Turkey is the third-largest arms exporter to the African continent, the report found, behind China and Russia.
Turkey’s KAAN is a fifth-generation, twin-engine fighter jet currently being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries. The plane is envisioned to replace the F-16s and will be powered by F110-GE-129 engines.
The jets, which will be equipped with medium- to long-range air-to-air and short-range air-to-air missiles, are being developed for precision strike missions and will have advanced sensors and stealth features.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) introduced on July 2 a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block the sale of the jet engines — but so far it only has Democratic co-sponsors. The bill would need to pass the House and secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate to override a presidential veto to successfully block the sale.
But Lintzenich, now a visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, warned of a greater risk of the U.S. pushing Turkey toward America’s adversaries in their search for greater military parts.
“We punished them over the F-35, and that punishment still stands. They’re still frustrated by it, and I get it, but as they now build out their own fighter, the question is: do we want to sell them the engines, or do we want them going to China or Russia,” he said.
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Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · The Hill ↗ · The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
As Trump prepares for a NATO summit in Turkey this week, his administration is exploring how to restore Turkey's access to the F-35 fighter jet program, which Trump himself suspended in his first term after Turkey acquired Russian S-400 air defense systems. The move faces legal barriers—Congress passed legislation in 2020 requiring certification that Turkey no longer possesses S-400 systems before any F-35 transfer. It also faces political opposition. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly cautioned against the sale, arguing it would destabilize Middle Eastern power balances. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers wrote to Trump expressing concern, citing Erdogan's regional aggression and defense partnerships with U.S. adversaries. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board warned that allowing the systems to operate together could expose advanced U.S. technology to Russian and Chinese analysis. The Pentagon is reportedly reviewing pathways to the sale. Separately, the Trump administration has already green-lit a $700 million sale of F110 jet engines to Turkey, which European officials suggest poses greater strategic risk by enabling Turkey's domestic fighter jet development and expanding its arms export capacity. Turkish officials have indicated both administrations possess the political will to lift sanctions, but the outcome depends on congressional action.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · The Hill ↗ · The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Skip to content
As President Trump heads to Turkey for this week’s NATO summit, he is facing growing pushback from Republicans — and Israel — who oppose admitting the ally back into the F-35 fighter jet program, as long as Ankara holds Russian air defense systems.
The president has said he is planning to bring a gift bag for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and The New York Times reported Monday night that Trump plans to signal his intent to resume sales of the F-35s, though what he’ll say and how he’ll get around Congress remains unclear.
The move would reverse Trump’s ban on Turkey’s involvement in the F-35 program during his first term.
The Trump administration has already given a green light for the sale of the F110 fighter jet engines Turkey covets and wrapped up — with little punishment — a major lawsuit against one of Turkey’s largest banks, Halkbank, for its subversion of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relationship with Trump has been badly damaged during the Iran war, sent a message to the president through Fox News on Monday to oppose an F-35 transfer.
“The other thing I’d like to say, because we’re on the verge of the president’s going to Turkey … I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets,” Netanyahu said.
“Because that’ll upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority, and also by, I think … America’s posture in the Middle East.”
Republicans and Democrats are also raising alarm.
“We write today to express deep concern about any effort to sell F-35s to Turkey,” a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote to Trump on July 2.
“With President Erdogan’s continued aggression toward our greatest partners along with his troubling defense partnerships with our adversaries, it is not in the best interest of our country to sell them F-35s.”
The letter was signed by Republican Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Jeff Hurd (Colo.), Max Miller (Ohio) and Young Kim (Calif.), in addition to Democratic Reps. Stephen Lynch (Mass.), Gabe Amo (R.I.), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) and Brad Sherman (Calif.)
The F-35s, a fifth-generation fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin that can fly about 1,200 miles, are one of the most advanced planes in the world that can conduct long-range strike missions, gather intelligence and lead attacks with a group of drones.
The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board warned the potential sale of the F-35s would give Russia and China a “window” into U.S. technology.
“Allowing the two systems to work together would amount to letting Vladimir Putin conduct target practice on the free world’s pilots,” the board wrote in a piece last week, referring to the Russian president.
“Congress also won’t like the sale, and the President has far better uses for his political capital,” the editorial board added.
Trump removed Turkey from the F-35 program during his first term after Erdogan accepted delivery of a Russian S-400 air and missile defense system, despite warnings from the U.S.
Trump’s sanctions were compelled by Congress, under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which prohibited countries from purchasing Russian military articles.
Congress further codified Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Bill text prohibits transfer of the fifth-generation fighter jets unless the administration can certify that Ankara “no longer possesses” the S-400 system, materials or anything associated with its functions.
But last month, Vice President Vance indicated that the Pentagon is reviewing how the Trump administration could sell the F-35s to Turkey, telling reporters that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “and the entire team are reviewing this right now, because there are certain things that we have to certify have happened … in order to comply with American law.”
“The president has asked us to do that,” the vice president said.
Trump then chimed in, saying, “We will work it out.”
The Pentagon did not respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
A senior GOP congressional aide told The Hill on Monday that the administration has sent no indication to Congress that the State Department is planning on lifting CAATSA sanctions.
Sherman, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, said he doesn’t think the president could go around Congress on selling F-35s.
“I think the statute is pretty clear that as long as Turkey holds on to its S-400s, they declare that they’re going to do that, it is illegal to sell” the fighter planes, Sherman said in a Monday interview with The Hill, adding he was also concerned about the F110 engine sale.
Even if Turkey got rid of the S-400s, Sherman said he would give the F-35 sale another look but would still be inclined to oppose it as long as Turkey continues to occupy Northern Cyprus and maintains close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Every new situation requires a new analysis, but the S-400s is just the biggest of the reasons not to transfer.”
J.C. Lintzenich, the former national security adviser for Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), said floated solutions like Turkey moving the S-400 into a warehouse are a nonstarter.
“The issue isn’t just shooting missiles,” he said. “It’s the tracking, the telemetry, and what the system can learn about advanced NATO aircraft.”
But Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told CNN Turk on Friday that both Erdogan and Trump have a “strong will” to lift CAATSA sanctions.
“In administrative terms, there are no problems in terms of willpower within the administrations. But we will see how the process unfolds in the U.S. Congress,” Fidan said.
Netanyahu, in his interview with Fox and Friends, laid out a long list of grievances against Erdogan and his top officials.
“Turkey is a great country, but it’s governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel,” he said. Netanyahu condemned Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus, military threats against Greece, a member of NATO, support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, and Turkish officials calling for the destruction of the Jewish State.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi last month called for the “liberation” of Jerusalem, and Fidan called Israel a “burden that humanity can no longer bear” — comments that Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said amounted to inciting genocide.
One European diplomat argued that focus on the F-35s was misplaces, as the $700 million military sale of the F110 jet engines posed a greater danger. The sale allows Turkey to build up its own domestic fleet of fifth-generation fighter jets, the KAAN, and expand its military customers across the world, the diplomat said.
Turkey has increased its arms exports over the course of 2021 and 2024, making it the 11th largest arms exporter and representing a 122 percent increase in exports compared to the previous five years, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Turkey is the third-largest arms exporter to the African continent, the report found, behind China and Russia.
Turkey’s KAAN is a fifth-generation, twin-engine fighter jet currently being developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries. The plane is envisioned to replace the F-16s and will be powered by F110-GE-129 engines.
The jets, which will be equipped with medium- to long-range air-to-air and short-range air-to-air missiles, are being developed for precision strike missions and will have advanced sensors and stealth features.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) introduced on July 2 a Joint Resolution of Disapproval to block the sale of the jet engines — but so far it only has Democratic co-sponsors. The bill would need to pass the House and secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate to override a presidential veto to successfully block the sale.
But Lintzenich, now a visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, warned of a greater risk of the U.S. pushing Turkey toward America’s adversaries in their search for greater military parts.
“We punished them over the F-35, and that punishment still stands. They’re still frustrated by it, and I get it, but as they now build out their own fighter, the question is: do we want to sell them the engines, or do we want them going to China or Russia,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · The Hill ↗ · The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Trump is considering reversing his first-term ban on Turkey's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara this week Trump removed Turkey from the F-35 program during his first term after Erdogan accepted delivery of a Russian S-400 air and missile defense system Congress codified Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 program in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, prohibiting transfer unless the administration certifies Turkey no longer possesses the S-400 system or its components A bipartisan group of six Republican and four Democratic lawmakers wrote to Trump on July 2 expressing deep concern about selling F-35s to Turkey, citing Erdogan's aggression toward U.S. partners and his defense partnerships with American adversaries Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said publicly that Turkey should not receive F-35s or fighter jet engines, arguing it would upset the power balance in the Middle East and undermine Israeli air superiority The Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board warned that the F-35 sale would give Russia and China a window into U.S. technology and could allow Putin to conduct target practice on free world pilots The Trump administration approved a $700 million sale of F110 fighter jet engines to Turkey A European diplomat argued that focus on the F-35s was misplaced, suggesting the F110 engine sale posed greater danger by enabling Turkey's domestic fighter jet development and expanding arms exports Turkey's arms exports increased 122 percent between 2019 and 2024, making it the 11th largest global arms exporter and third-largest exporter to Africa The Pentagon is reviewing how the Trump administration could certify Turkey's compliance with legal requirements in order to sell F-35s Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that both Erdogan and Trump have strong political will to lift CAATSA sanctions A senior GOP congressional aide reported that the administration has sent no indication to Congress that the State Department is planning to lift CAATSA sanctions Rep. Brad Sherman stated he believes the statute is clear that as long as Turkey holds the S-400s, selling F-35s is illegal
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗ · The Hill ↗ · The Hill ↗ · NPR ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Trump is considering reversing his first-term ban on Turkey's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program ahead of this week's NATO summit in Ankara
- Opposition comes from bipartisan lawmakers, Israeli PM Netanyahu, and conservative editorial boards, citing concerns about Russia and China gaining insight into U.S. technology through Turkey's Russian S-400 air defense system
- Congress codified Turkey's F-35 exclusion in law; reversing it would require certifying Turkey no longer possesses the S-400, a requirement Turkey has not met and shows no signs of meeting
- The Trump administration has already approved sale of F110 fighter jet engines to Turkey, which could enable Turkey's domestic fighter jet development and arms exports
- Turkish officials have signaled willingness to work with Trump on lifting sanctions, but congressional approval remains a significant legal and political hurdle