Trump signals possible F-35 sale to Turkey despite Congressional opposition

(Horizon Media) — U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration is preparing to decide whether to supply Turkey with advanced F-35 fighter jets, signalling a possible reversal of Washington’s longstanding restrictions on Ankara.

“We are going to make a decision on supplying Turkey with F-35 fighter jets,” Trump said Tuesday during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara.

“We have a very good relationship with Turkey. For years, Turkey has shown far greater loyalty toward us than many other countries,” Trump added.

Trump also announced his intention to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. However, legal and congressional obstacles to Turkey’s return to the F-35 program remain unresolved.

Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 production and procurement program in 2019 after Ankara took delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system. U.S. defence officials warned that operating the S-400 near the F-35 could allow sensitive information about the aircraft’s stealth capabilities to be collected and potentially exposed to Russia. Turkey had initially planned to purchase as many as 100 F-35s and had produced more than 900 components for the aircraft.

The 2020 National Defence Authorization Act prohibits the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey for as long as Ankara retains the S-400 system, which it has not relinquished. Any effort to readmit Turkey to the program is therefore expected to face significant resistance in Congress.

The Armenian National Committee of America has been working with congressional leaders and Hellenic American organizations to block both Turkey’s return to the F-35 program and a separate proposed $700 million sale of American jet engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter aircraft.

An ANCA-backed letter led by Representative Dina Titus and signed by 17 other House members urged congressional leaders to prepare legislation blocking Turkey’s F-35 reintegration. The lawmakers cited Ankara’s threats against Greece and Cyprus, as well as its military support for Azerbaijan during its campaigns against Armenia and Artsakh.

Representatives Mike Lawler and Brad Sherman have separately led a bipartisan letter urging Trump to maintain the prohibition. Titus has also introduced a joint resolution seeking to block the proposed sale of General Electric engines for Turkey’s KAAN aircraft.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said Trump’s announcement disregarded growing bipartisan concern in Congress, arguing that providing Turkey with advanced American weapons would reward Erdogan’s government despite its record of aggression against neighbouring states and U.S. partners.