President Trump banned Turkey from purchasing U.S. military jets in 2020 after the Turkish government purchased anti-aircraft systems from Russia. While Turkey retains the Russian system, Congress has adopted a law blocking the sale of the F-35.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says the United States will end sanctions against Turkey that began during his first term, a welcome policy shift that would allow Ankara to buy F-35 fighter jets despite federal law aimed at blocking such sales.
“We are going to lift sanctions,” Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. “It’s time to do that. We don’t want to sanction our friends. It’s easy.”
In 2020, the first Trump administration banned Turkey from accepting U.S. exports after it purchased a surface-to-air missile system called the S-400 from Russia’s main arms exporter, over concerns that the system would harm U.S. personnel and technology. The United States also imposed asset freezes and visa restrictions on Turkish defense officials.
President Trump’s comments about lifting sanctions came during a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO meeting, which was established to protect Europe from Russia. President Erdogan welcomed the policy change.
“I believe President Trump has also made separate commitments on this issue, and I look forward to the future fruitful validation of the commitments we have received so far at the summit. President Trump is always a man of his word, and I look forward to seeing him on the F-35 as well.”
Congress passed a law banning the sale of F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara maintains Russian defense systems, saying they pose a security risk to the U.S. fighter jets. U.S. law currently does not allow Turkey to operate or possess the S-400 system if it wishes to return to the F-35 program.
President Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and others were working to lift the sanctions.
“This is a decision we will make,” President Trump said of the F-35. “It’s a very good relationship.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said on social media that he hopes reports about lifting sanctions are false, citing a 2020 law that blocked F-35 sales to Turkey.
“This provision specifically prohibits the transfer of F-35 aircraft (or related equipment, technical data, or support) to Turkey unless the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State provide written certification to Congress at least 90 days in advance,” Cornyn said.
This story has been updated to add new information.
