United States President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is prepared to support Turkey's return to the F-35 fighter jet programme, according to a report by The New York Times. The reported policy shift would reverse a ban imposed in 2019 after Ankara acquired the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
The issue is expected to feature prominently during a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of this week's NATO summit in Ankara. However, legal requirements and congressional opposition could complicate any effort to move forward with aircraft deliveries.
Proposal under discussion
According to The New York Times, four senior US administration officials said the development follows weeks of discussions involving national security officials seeking to overcome a longstanding impasse in US-Turkey relations.
While no formal timetable has reportedly been established, the sources said Mr Trump is expected to signal his intention to clear the way for Turkey's re-entry into the programme and the eventual delivery of F-35 aircraft.
The newspaper reported that officials are still examining how legal and congressional obstacles could be addressed.
According to the same sources, one option under consideration is an exchange of letters between Mr Trump and Mr Erdogan to formally initiate the process.
Background to Turkey's removal
Turkey was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after acquiring the Russian S-400 air defence system.
At the time, Washington argued that operating both systems simultaneously could allow Russia to obtain sensitive information about the stealth and missile-evasion capabilities of the US-built aircraft.
Although the decision was taken during Mr Trump's first presidency, the report said he had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome and frequently attributed responsibility to policies that preceded his administration.
Since returning to the White House, he has reportedly examined both publicly and privately the possibility of reversing the decision.
Legal obstacles remain
A significant challenge remains a US law enacted in 2020 that prohibits the sale of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless the US government certifies that Ankara no longer possesses the S-400 system.
According to one official involved in the discussions, options under consideration include transferring the S-400 systems to a third country.
Other proposals reportedly involve disabling the systems by removing key components. A previous proposal to transfer the systems to Ukraine was considered but did not proceed.
Turkey's long-standing objective
Turkey has for several years sought a return to the F-35 programme while maintaining its position on retaining the S-400 systems.
The report notes that Turkey remains a NATO member and hosts a US military base where the alliance stores tactical nuclear weapons.
When announcing Turkey's removal from the programme in 2019, the White House stated that "the F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities".
The administration also said that although Turkey had been a trusted NATO ally for decades, the purchase of the S-400 undermined the alliance's objective of reducing dependence on Russian defence systems.
Administration efforts
US Vice President JD Vance recently confirmed that Mr Trump had instructed his administration to explore ways of restarting the process.
According to Mr Vance, it must first be established that the requirements of US legislation are satisfied before any progress can be made.
Opposition in Congress
The proposal is reported to be facing resistance in Congress.
Among the most prominent critics is Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The report also notes objections from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said in a recent interview that although Turkey is an important country, it is led by a president who "openly calls for the destruction of Israel."
Mr Netanyahu also referred to Turkey's presence in the northern part of Cyprus and its disputes with Greece.
Outstanding sanctions and aircraft deliveries
Sanctions imposed in 2020 on Turkey's defence procurement agency remain in force.
According to a report by the Congressional Research Service cited in the article, F-35 aircraft that were built and paid for by Turkey but never delivered remain stored in the United States.
NATO summit backdrop
The reported development comes as NATO leaders gather in Ankara amid continuing debates over defence spending, Russia and the war in Ukraine.
During the summit, Mr Trump is expected to hold separate meetings with both Mr Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
