U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said his administration has not yet made a decision on whether to approve the sale of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets to Turkey, leaving open the possibility of future discussions while offering no commitment on Ankara’s long-standing request.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, Trump said the issue remains under consideration but stressed that no final determination has been reached. His comments come amid renewed engagement between Washington and Ankara on defence cooperation and broader regional security.
Turkey has consistently sought to rejoin the multinational F-35 programme after being removed from it by the United States in 2019 following its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defence missile system. Washington argued that operating the S-400 alongside the fifth-generation F-35 could compromise the aircraft’s sensitive technology and threaten NATO security.
As a result, Turkey was suspended from the programme under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) framework and was barred from receiving the fighter jets despite having participated in the programme as both a partner and manufacturing contributor.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest that the administration has not closed the door on the issue but continues to evaluate the broader strategic, legal and security implications of any potential decision. U.S. officials have repeatedly maintained that any reconsideration would depend on developments related to Turkey’s defence procurement policies and its compliance with U.S. security concerns.
The F-35 question remains one of the most sensitive issues in bilateral relations between the two NATO allies. Ankara has argued that it fulfilled its financial commitments to the programme and has repeatedly called for either the delivery of the aircraft or compensation for its investments.
The issue comes at a time when NATO members are seeking greater unity amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Defence cooperation, alliance interoperability and military modernisation have been central themes of discussions among allied leaders.
No timeline has been announced for a final U.S. decision on the F-35 issue. Any move to resume sales would likely involve consultations within the U.S. administration and Congress, where Turkey’s defence ties with Russia continue to face close scrutiny.
Trump’s statement indicates that while dialogue with Turkey remains active, the future of the F-35 deal remains uncertain.
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