Trump expected to restore Türkiye’s access to F-35 program

US President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during their meeting in Ankara that he is prepared to restore Türkiye’s access to the F‑35 fighter jet programme, according to a New York Times report published Monday. The move, which follows weeks of behind‑the‑scenes efforts by national security officials to break the stalemate, comes as Trump arrives in the Turkish capital for the NATO summit .

Congressional hurdles and S‑400 issue

The newspaper reported that Trump’s plans could face opposition in Congress, which has previously restricted the sale of F‑35s to Türkiye unless the administration determines that Ankara no longer possesses the Russian‑made S‑400 air defence system . Officials differed on how the administration would address congressional and legal restrictions, but suggested there could be an exchange of letters on the subject between the two leaders . Türkiye has repeatedly said there is no conflict between the two systems and has proposed a commission to study the issue, arguing that its suspension from the programme broke the rules .

NATO summit backdrop

The potential breakthrough comes as Trump attends the July 7‑8 NATO summit in Ankara, where he will hold bilateral meetings with President Erdoğan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa. Last month, Trump said he is likely to take a step that would make Erdoğan “very happy” when asked about Ankara’s request for F‑35 fighter jets and jet engines. Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye but also NATO.