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politics

Trump Discusses F-35 Sales to Turkey

Tuesday, July 7, 2026 · 3 sources

President Trump expressed no concerns about selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. He made these comments during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

President Trump said he had no concerns over selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey on Tuesday. He made the comments during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. The issue of selling F-35s to Turkey has been contentious due to Turkey's acquisition of the S-400 missile defense system.

Trump's statement comes amid growing pushback over the potential reversal of the current policy. The US has previously expressed concerns that Turkey's possession of both the F-35 and the S-400 could compromise the security of the F-35 program.

The meeting between Trump and Erdoğan took place in Ankara, where they discussed various topics, including defense cooperation. Trump's remarks on the F-35 sales were in response to a question about whether Turkey’s S-400 missile defense system would be handed over to a third party.

Go Deeper

What is the S-400 missile defense system?

The S-400 is a Russian-made missile defense system that Turkey has acquired, despite US concerns about its compatibility with NATO systems. The US has warned that the S-400 could compromise the security of the F-35 program.

Why is the US concerned about selling F-35s to Turkey?

The US is concerned that Turkey's possession of both the F-35 and the S-400 could compromise the security of the F-35 program. This is because the S-400 is a Russian-made system that could potentially be used to gather intelligence on the F-35.

What is the current policy on selling F-35s to Turkey?

The current policy is to withhold the sale of F-35s to Turkey due to concerns about the country's acquisition of the S-400 missile defense system. However, President Trump's recent comments suggest that he may be open to reversing this policy.

What was the context of Trump's comments on F-35 sales?

Trump made his comments during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. He was responding to a question about whether Turkey’s S-400 missile defense system would be handed over to a third party.

What are the implications of selling F-35s to Turkey?

The implications of selling F-35s to Turkey are significant, as it could potentially compromise the security of the F-35 program. It could also strain relations between the US and other NATO allies, who have expressed concerns about Turkey's acquisition of the S-400.