Trump Open to Selling F-35 Fighter Jets to Turkey
President Trump signaled he is open to selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during a meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan. The move would be a shift in U.S. policy and has raised concerns from Israel.
President Trump met with Turkish President Erdoğan in Ankara on Tuesday and indicated he is leaning towards allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program and selling the fighter jets to the Turkish air force. This decision would mark a shift in U.S. policy, as Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system.
Trump stated that many people think the U.S. should sell the jets to Turkey, given its loyalty as an ally. He also claimed that Turkey could have joined the war with Iran but chose not to, despite being hit by Iranian missiles. Erdoğan expressed his hope that the issue of the F-35s would move in a positive direction during his summit with Trump.
The potential sale of F-35 jets to Turkey has raised concerns from Israel, which fears it would tilt the regional balance of power and violate U.S. commitments to maintain Israel's military edge. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently complained to Trump about Erdoğan's anti-Israel rhetoric and asked him to refrain from selling weapons systems that would help Turkey modernize its air force.
Go Deeper
Why was Turkey expelled from the F-35 program?
Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after it purchased Russia's S-400 air defense system, which U.S. officials said could compromise the advanced fighter jet.
What are the concerns about selling F-35 jets to Turkey?
Israel is concerned that selling F-35 jets to Turkey would tilt the regional balance of power and violate U.S. commitments to maintain Israel's military edge.
What did President Trump say about selling F-35 jets to Turkey?
President Trump said that many people think the U.S. should sell the jets to Turkey, given its loyalty as an ally, and that it is something the U.S. would definitely consider.
What is the current status of the potential sale of F-35 jets to Turkey?
The Pentagon is conducting a review to determine how the U.S. could sell F-35s to Turkey despite its possession of the Russian-made missile defense system.
How have lawmakers responded to the potential sale of F-35 jets to Turkey?
18 lawmakers have sent a letter to House leaders calling on them to block any potential sale of F-35 jets to Turkey as long as its military still holds Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.
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