NATO summit in Ankara addresses F-35 sales and Middle East tensions

During the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held high-level discussions regarding potential military cooperation. While Trump expressed positive sentiments toward Turkey and indicated he would consider selling F-35 fighter jets, he later clarified that a final decision has not been reached. Erdogan stated he received commitments for five aircraft and remains optimistic. Turkey was previously expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 following its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system. A group of 18 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress, led by Dina Titus, issued a letter expressing strong opposition to any potential deal, citing the S-400 presence, the occupation of Cyprus, and threats against Greece. Concurrently, Trump announced impending military strikes against Iran in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. president also signaled an intent to lift CAATSA sanctions on Turkey, a move that would face significant legislative hurdles in the U.S. Congress.