President Donald Trump has said the United States will “consider” a sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye. But no decision has been announced, Israel is pushing back publicly, and Congress remains a decisive gatekeeper.
WASHINGTON — A possible U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Türkiye has moved back to the center of U.S.-Türkiye relations after President Donald Trump indicated during the NATO summit in Ankara that his administration would consider Ankara’s request. The remarks opened a consequential debate that goes beyond aircraft. Any move toward restoring Türkiye’s access to the F-35 program would test the future of the U.S.-Türkiye strategic relationship, intensify discussions in Congress, and sharpen regional concerns — especially in Israel. Trump praised President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the Ankara summit but did not announce an agreement. As reported by The Washington Post, the president said the United States would “consider” the fighter-jet sale, even as congressional opposition remains significant.
Türkiye was removed from the multinational F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring Russia’s S-400 air-defense system. That decision also triggered U.S. sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, commonly known as CAATSA. Any renewed path to the aircraft would therefore require more than positive presidential rhetoric: it would require a workable policy arrangement on the S-400 issue, an interagency decision in Washington, formal congressional notification, and the ability to withstand political scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
The issue gained further urgency after reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to discuss the question with Israeli leaders during a planned visit to Israel. Reuters reported that the anticipated meetings were to include the F-35 issue and Iran, though the visit was later canceled amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions.
Israel has made its opposition clear. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that providing the fifth-generation fighter to Türkiye could alter the regional military balance. In remarks reported by CNN, Netanyahu said he urged Trump not to approve the transfer and warned of what he described as Türkiye’s growing regional ambitions.
Israel is currently the only Middle Eastern operator of the F-35. The concerns voiced by Israeli leaders reflect the broader U.S. policy of preserving Israel’s qualitative military edge, a longstanding factor in American arms-transfer decisions in the region.

For Ankara, however, the question is fundamentally about alliance credibility and military readiness. Türkiye is NATO’s second-largest military power and occupies a strategically vital position linking Europe, the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish officials and supporters of a renewed F-35 arrangement argue that excluding Türkiye from the program weakens NATO interoperability and pushes an important ally toward more independent defense choices.
The debate is also unfolding in a more complicated regional environment. Türkiye and Israel remain sharply divided over Gaza, Syria, and wider regional security policy. At the same time, Washington is balancing the NATO alliance, the security of Israel, escalating tensions with Iran, and congressional concerns over U.S. defense technology.
At this stage, the most important fact is also the simplest: there is no announced F-35 deal with Türkiye. Trump’s comments indicate political openness, not a completed transaction. Any final decision would face a long and politically difficult process in Washington.