Trump administration to bypass Congress for Türkiye jet engine sale

The Trump administration is expected to move forward with a proposed $750 million sale of F‑110 jet engines to Türkiye despite objections from a senior Democratic lawmaker, according to The Wall Street Journal. Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, placed a hold on the sale over Ankara’s continued possession of the Russian‑made S‑400 air defence system, as well as concerns related to Syria and Greece.

Administration’s justification

The administration has informed Congress that it intends to proceed with the sale, describing President Erdoğan as a “great partner in the region.” An administration official defended the move, citing President Trump’s close ties with Erdoğan. “The administration always maintains maximum transparency with Congress,” the official told Anadolu, adding that Ambassador Barrack and other officials have briefed Congress on the topic. Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he is likely to take a step that would make Türkiye “very happy” when asked about Ankara’s request for F‑35 fighter jets and jet engines.

Context of US‑Türkiye defence ties

The US suspended Türkiye from the F‑35 programme in 2019 over the S‑400 purchase, claiming the system would endanger the jets and is incompatible with NATO systems. Several Turkish defence entities were sanctioned under CAATSA. Türkiye has repeatedly said there is no conflict and has proposed a commission to study the issue. Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye but also NATO. The engine sale could signal a thaw in defence relations, ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.