US-Turkey Relations Shift
Trump Promises Sanctions Lift, F-35 Return as US-Turkey Ties Warm at NATO Summit
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Key Points
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Erdogan told reporters that Ankara had been promised five F-35 jets, and Trump said the 'great plane' would be considered for Turkey's return to the program.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly opposed allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program, and has pressed Washington not to proceed.
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Some observers say Turkey could send the Russian S-400 system to a third country rather than keep it in place as a condition for rejoining the F-35 program.
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The welcoming ceremony included a Turkish Stars aerobatic flyover and a 21-gun salute for Trump during the visit.
President Donald Trump announced at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 that the U.S. will lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey, saying 'we don't want to sanction friends.' Sky News Australia reported Trump also signaled an openness to selling Turkey F-35 fighter jets, calling it 'a great plane' and 'certainly something we will consider.' The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has marked a dramatic warming of ties between Washington and Ankara.
Erdoğan claimed Trump made a personal promise to deliver five F-35 jets that were built for Turkey in 2018 and have sat in U.S. storage ever since. AOL News captured the moment on video, showing Erdoğan reacting with visible approval as Trump made the sanctions announcement. The summit has exposed deep tensions with Israel, which is furiously lobbying against any F-35 deal with Ankara.
How a Lavish Welcome Set the Tone in Ankara
Trump landed at Etimesgut Air Base on July 7. Breaking standard protocol, Erdoğan personally met him at the airport rather than waiting at the presidential palace. At the Bestepe Presidential Palace, Trump received a 21-gun salute, Ottoman cavalry guards, and a flyover by Turkey's aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars. NTD reported that Erdoğan also hosted NATO leaders including Macron and Starmer at a summit dinner.
The public warmth between the two leaders was striking. Trump said Turkey had 'in many ways been much more loyal than other countries.' Erdoğan praised Trump's leadership and described a strong personal bond. Trump also used the summit to push NATO allies to spend 5% of their GDP on defense — a target Erdoğan said Turkey would hit by 2030, five years ahead of NATO's 2035 deadline.
The S-400 Problem Blocking Turkey's F-35 Return
Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program in 2019 after buying Russia's S-400 missile defense system for $2.5 billion. The Pentagon warned the S-400's radar could map the F-35's stealth design and leak secrets to Moscow. Turkish firms had been set to build over 900 F-35 parts and buy 100 jets. The U.S. then imposed formal CAATSA sanctions on Turkey's defense agency in December 2020.
Getting back in is not simple. Under U.S. law, Trump must certify that Turkey no longer possesses or operates the S-400 before any F-35 transfer can happen. One floated solution: Turkey moves the S-400 batteries to a third country like the UAE, often called the 'Dubai option.' Turkish law expert Aaron Stein put it plainly — 'Trump wants to sell stuff, but he is prevented from doing so by pieces of legislation that he has no control over.'
Israel Mounts a Fierce Public Campaign Against the Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a blunt public offensive against the F-35 plan. He called Turkey 'a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood that hates America.' On CNN on July 7, he warned the deal 'would destroy the power balance in the Middle East.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar added that Israel must preserve its 'qualitative military edge' in the region.
Jiji Press noted that Trump arrived at the summit already at odds with some European allies over his approach to Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled a planned July 8 visit to Israel — meant partly to calm Israeli fears over Turkey — after the U.S. launched strikes on Iran over attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Turkey's Foreign Ministry shot back at Netanyahu, calling his statements a 'disinformation campaign' to distract from Gaza.
Turkey Bets Big on Defense to Sweeten the Alliance
Erdoğan arrived at the summit with more than charm. He unveiled an extra $24 billion for Turkey's 'Steel Dome' air defense project — a new multi-layer shield that conspicuously leaves out the Russian S-400. Turkey is now pursuing Western alternatives like the U.S. Patriot or the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, signaling a clear pivot back toward NATO standards.
Turkey is also seeking U.S. General Electric F110 turbofan engines worth over $700 million to power its homegrown stealth jet, the KAAN fighter. The Australian reported that Trump framed the entire shift as a win for American loyalty and defense exports, declaring it was simply 'time' to move past the sanctions. Whether Congress agrees is another matter — lawmakers on both sides have warned that rewarding Erdoğan sets a dangerous precedent.
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