Trump Plans to Lift Sanctions on Turkey and Open F-35 Sales
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to remove sanctions on Turkey and expressed a willingness to revive the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to the country. This represents a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding its NATO ally, especially since Turkey was previously excluded from a program involving Russian missile defense purchases.
During a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Trump administration confirmed it would be lifting sanctions against Turkey’s defense sector. “You can say we’re going to lift the sanctions, right?” Trump stated, urging for a swift response, emphasizing that they should not impose restrictions on their ally.
When queried about moving forward with the F-35 sales despite legal challenges tied to Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, Trump suggested he was open to the idea. “A lot of people are asking why not,” he remarked, asserting that Turkey has shown more allegiance to the U.S. than some other nations considered allies.
In response to concerns surrounding Turkey’s possession of the S-400, Trump minimized those worries, saying, “There’s nothing to worry about.” These statements mark a clear indication of Trump’s desire to restore defense relationships with Turkey, a country with one of the largest militaries in NATO, after a period of strained ties.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 coalition in 2019 following its purchase of the S-400 system, with U.S. officials arguing that combining that system with the F-35 could compromise sensitive technology. This decision led to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Yet, Congress has posed significant opposition to Turkey regaining access to the F-35. Bipartisan lawmakers have insisted that not only should Turkey not receive advanced jets while it retains the S-400, but they’ve also raised concerns that Turkey’s policies might be contrary to U.S. interests.
Moreover, beyond political opposition, legal challenges also hinder the Trump administration’s path. While the president has power over sanction policies, additional congressional restrictions were implemented after Turkey’s S-400 acquisition. According to the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, the transfer of F-35 jets is prohibited unless the executive branch certifies Turkey meets legal guidelines regarding Russian missile systems.
Recently, a bipartisan contingent of Congress suggested Trump refrain from pursuing the F-35 sale, arguing this could breach U.S. law and compromise national security. Concerns about Turkey’s ongoing possession of the S-400, its backing of Hamas, and conflicts with NATO allies like Greece and Cyprus only add weight to the opposition against Turkey regaining access to the F-35s.
The Pentagon has warned that the sophisticated radar system of the S-400 could gather critical information on the F-35’s capabilities during normal operations. If that data were to reach Russia, it could enhance their ability to counter or destroy the jets in future confrontations.
In 2019, when Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program, the White House stated that “the F-35 cannot coexist with Russian intelligence-gathering platforms.” In a similar vein, Defense Department officials cautioned that allowing Turkey to operate both systems would undermine the F-35 program’s long-term security, as much of its effectiveness relies on its stealth features.
