President Donald Trump, in the course of the first day of the NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday, stated he’ll contemplate permitting Turkey to purchase American F-35 fighter jets — regardless of possessing Russian-made air protection methods, which his first administration sanctioned the nation for six years in the past.
“It is a determination we will make,” Trump stated as he met Turkish President Recep Erdogan at Erdogan’s presidential compound.
“We now have a greater relationship with Turkey, and Turkey’s been, in some ways, far more loyal than different nations that we predict could be loyal,” Trump stated. “So, it is one thing, actually, we might contemplate. It is an excellent aircraft, it is the very best, at the moment the very best aircraft by far, and it is actually one thing we are going to contemplate.”
Turkey seeks to affix a U.S. F-35 program however is prohibited from doing so below U.S. regulation so long as it possesses Russian-made air defenses.
In a 2020 launch, Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated these methods “would endanger the safety of U.S. navy know-how and personnel and supply substantial funds to Russia’s protection sector, in addition to Russian entry to the Turkish armed forces and protection trade.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shakes arms with Donald Trump throughout a gathering at Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, on July 7, 2026, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Vice President JD Vance, throughout an Oval Workplace assembly with Trump and NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte final week, stated Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Protection Division had been reviewing the Turkish buy of American F-35 fighters, and Trump throughout that assembly teased a “reward” for Turkey, suggesting the sale.
Trump later stated the U.S. had an “obligation” to keep up the engines of planes Turkey has purchased as a result of Turkey, he stated, has been “extra useful” on Iran than different NATO nations.
Trump once more lashed out at different NATO allies for his or her reluctance to affix U.S. navy operations in reopening and patrolling of the essential Strait of Hormuz.
“I used to be very disillusioned with NATO,” Trump stated. “And albeit, if it weren’t held in Turkey, the place my pal occurs to be a really sturdy chief, a really sturdy individual, it is doable that I would not have attended.”
Trump once more questioned the alliance as he singled out nations he stated declined to help the U.S. on Iran, saying he was “testing folks.”
“Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down and France turned us down. And it is OK, however why are we spending a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} and so they’re not there for us? We have at all times been there for them,” the president stated.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes President Donald Trump at Ankara Airport, forward of the 2026 NATO Heads of State and Authorities Summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 7, 2026.
Osmancan Gurdogan/EPA/Shutterstock
“They have been extraordinary in some ways with respect to our relationship, together with attempting to finish the conflict with Iran, or no matter you name it, it isn’t even a conflict, it is a navy operation, it is a denuclearization, that is actually what it’s, of Iran, as a result of I do not suppose he desires to see them have a nuclear weapon both. I am fairly positive that. In truth, I am completely positive of that,” Trump stated.
Donald Trump walks previous the dignity guard with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 7, 2026.
Alex Brandon/AP Picture
Trump instructed that he did not have an issue with the truth that Turkey was additionally utilizing Russian air protection methods, telling reporters: “I’ve no considerations in any respect about something.”
Trump informed reporters that his administration is working to elevate sanctions on Turkey, saying “it is time.” Trump’s first administration sanctioned Turkey in 2020 for buying the Russian protection methods.
“I can inform you we will take the sanctions off,” Trump stated, answering a Turkish query that seemed to be directed at Erdogan. “I do not need him to waste his time answering that query.”
Trump stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Hegseth had been engaged on it.
“We’ll be taking the sanctions off. It is time to do this, OK?” he stated.
