US President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is prepared to restore Ankara to the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet program, according to a report published in The New York Times, based on four senior US administration officials.
The dramatic development comes against the backdrop of Trump's planned visit to Ankara ahead of this week's NATO summit, where the two leaders are expected to hold a one-on-one meeting. According to the report, the US administration is still considering how to overcome legal restrictions and congressional opposition to the move, but one option under review is an arrangement through an exchange of official letters between Washington and Ankara.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system, a move that drew outrage in the US and led to sanctions. Congress also passed legislation barring the sale of the stealth jets to Turkey as long as the Russian system remains in use, due to concerns that it could compromise US information security.
Now, it appears the winds between the two countries are beginning to shift. Only recently, the US administration notified Congress of its intention to approve the sale of jet engines to Turkey in a deal worth more than $700 million, a move seen as the first sign of a renewed warming in relations.
Should the move indeed go ahead, it could mark a significant turning point and end one of the most serious defense crises in recent years between two key NATO members.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview Monday to Fox News, his second in two days, and, against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's expected visit to Turkey, delivered a sharp message against the possibility that Washington would provide Ankara with F-35 jets or engines for its fighter aircraft.
"Turkey is a big country, but it is ruled by a man who openly calls for Israel's destruction," Netanyahu said in the interview. Erdogan, he said, "occupies half of Cyprus, a NATO member state, threatens Greece, also a NATO member state, and speaks openly about conquering Jerusalem."
