07.07.2026 07:10
An interesting F-35 claim has surfaced ahead of the NATO Leaders Summit, which will start today in Ankara hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It is alleged that US President Donald Trump, who will meet with Erdoğan as part of the summit, may give a green light for Turkey's re-entry into the F-35 fighter jet program. The claim has sparked comments that a new era in defense could begin on the Ankara-Washington line.
It has been claimed that US President Donald Trump is preparing to deliver an important message regarding Turkey's return to the F-35 fighter jet program during his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara as part of the NATO Leaders Summit.
According to a report by the New York Times, citing four senior US administration officials, Trump is favorably disposed toward allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program.
TO BE ON THE AGENDA IN THE MEETING WITH ERDOĞAN
According to the report, the issue is expected to be addressed during Trump's meeting with Erdoğan in Ankara. Officials also suggested that there could be an exchange of letters between the two leaders on this matter.
However, the report stated that there is a divergence of opinion among US officials on how the Trump administration would overcome legal restrictions imposed by Congress.
The White House did not respond to Reuters' request for comment regarding the New York Times report.
THE CAUSE OF THE CRISIS: S-400
Following Turkey's purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia in 2019, serious tensions arose in Ankara-Washington relations.
The US administration removed Turkey from the F-35 program on the grounds that the S-400 systems pose a security risk to F-35 technology, and also imposed CAATSA sanctions.
The US Congress had also adopted legislation banning the sale of F-35s to Turkey as long as it possesses the S-400 systems.
SIGNAL OF A NEW ERA IN RELATIONS
The claim in the New York Times report is seen as a new indication of the accelerating normalization process between Ankara and Washington in recent times.
According to an official notification document previously obtained by Reuters, the Trump administration last month formally notified Congress of its intention to approve the sale of dozens of fighter jet engines valued at over $700 million to Turkey.
If the claim of a return to the F-35 program materializes, it is considered to be one of the most significant developments in defense cooperation between the two countries in recent years.