Trump plans to lift Turkey sanctions, weighing F-35 sale over strong opposition from Netanyahu

President Donald Trump announced July 6 that the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey and signaled openness to restoring Ankara’s access to F-35 fighter jets, marking a major shift in U.S. policy toward a NATO ally that was removed from the stealth fighter program over its purchase of a Russian missile defense system.

Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a visit to Turkey for a NATO summit, Trump said his administration would remove sanctions imposed on Turkey’s defense sector. 

“It’s time. We don’t want to sanction friends,” the President said, according to Reuters.

Trump also praised Turkey as a loyal NATO ally and indicated that the U.S. would consider allowing Turkey to purchase F-35s. 

“It’s a great plane,” Trump said. “It’s the best, currently the best plane by far. And it’s certainly something we will consider.”

The move would reverse years of strained defense relations between Washington and Ankara. Turkey was removed from the multinational F-35 program in 2019 after making a deal with Russia for a defense missile system. U.S. officials warned at the time that operating the Russian system alongside the F-35 could expose sensitive information about the American aircraft’s stealth capabilities. Congress later imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA, according to Fox News.

Legal obstacles remain. Fox News reports that Section 1245 of the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act bars the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless the executive branch certifies that Ankara has met statutory requirements related to the S-400. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has urged Trump not to proceed with a sale, arguing that doing so without satisfying those legal requirements would violate U.S. law and undermine national security.

The possible sale has also drawn opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, making Trump’s Turkey plans the latest flashpoint in a relationship that has become increasingly contentious in recent months.

Ahead of Trump’s trip to Turkey, Netanyahu urged Washington not to sell advanced weapons to Ankara, especially F-35 jets. Speaking to Fox & Friends, Netanyahu called Turkey “a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood” and claimed the sale would “upset the power balance in the Middle East.”

Axios reported that Netanyahu had complained to Trump ahead of the NATO summit about Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric. The outlet reported that Israel fears a sale would tilt the regional balance of power and violate U.S. commitments to maintain Israel’s military edge.

The disagreement over Turkey follows several public disputes between Trump and Netanyahu over Israel’s conduct in Lebanon and its effect on U.S. diplomacy with Iran.

As Zeale News previously reported, Trump repeatedly berated Netanyahu in early June over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, after Israeli strikes threatened to derail U.S. efforts to complete a peace agreement with Iran. Trump told an Israeli outlet that Netanyahu should be “very careful” or he would be left to face Iran alone. In another exchange, Trump emphasized that “Bibi does not” call the shots.

Zeale News also reported that Trump sharply criticized Netanyahu after Israel launched strikes in Beirut shortly after the White House announced that U.S. and Iranian officials were expected to sign an agreement. 

“Why did Bibi have to do a f***ing attack?” Trump told Axios after the strikes. “I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no f***ing judgment.” 

Trump later wrote on Truth Social that the attack “should not have happened” and urged all parties not to “blow” the chance at regional peace.

In later comments, Trump said Israel’s campaign in Lebanon was dragging on unnecessarily and suggested Syria could deal with Hezbollah more effectively than Israel.

The Trump administration’s frustration continued after Israel and Hezbollah strikes in Lebanon temporarily stalled U.S.-Iran talks. Vice President JD Vance warned from the White House podium last month that Trump is Israel’s “only powerful ally in the entire world” and that Israel should not risk alienating him by flouting or criticizing the administration’s new agreement with Iran.