Turkey's F-35 Comeback Bid Gets Trump Backing. Why Israel Is Against The Fighter Jet Deal

Last Updated:July 08, 2026, 02:02 IST

The US had removed Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 after Ankara bought Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

Turkey’s long-pending bid to return to the US-made F-35 fighter jet programme has gained fresh attention after US President Donald Trump said Washington would consider selling the advanced aircraft to Ankara.

Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while sitting alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Ankara for a NATO summit. The US had removed Turkey from the F-35 programme in 2019 after Ankara bought Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

“That’s a decision we’re going to make… it’s a great plane, the best plane by far and it’s certainly something we will consider," Trump said when asked about selling F-35 jets to Turkey.

Why Turkey Wants F-35 Jets Back?

Turkey has been pushing for years to rejoin the F-35 programme and remove US sanctions that have affected its defence projects.

Trump also indicated that Washington could lift sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), saying, “We don’t want to sanction friends."

Erdogan welcomed Trump’s remarks and said he believed the US President would help resolve the dispute.

“Mr. Trump has also personally given us his word on this matter," Erdogan said, adding that he expected a favourable decision on the F-35 issue.

Turkey is hoping to secure the delivery of five F-35 fighter jets for which it has already made payments.

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