President Trump rejects foreign interference regarding potential F-35 sales to Turkey

On Monday, July 27, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, asserting that U.S. arms policy decisions are not dictated by foreign leaders. Trump specifically dismissed objections raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who argues that providing such advanced technology to Ankara would threaten Israel's regional military advantage. During remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump defended Turkey as a reliable ally, citing its cooperation in Syria.

This presidential statement occurs amidst ongoing legal and administrative obstacles. Only days earlier, the U.S. State Department informed Congressman Wesley Bell that Turkey remains ineligible for the F-35 program due to existing domestic laws and the country’s previous acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems, which led to its initial expulsion from the project. Despite this, Turkish media have framed the President’s recent rhetoric as a major shift that overcomes pressures from both Greece and Israel to keep Ankara out of the program.

The official U.S. position regarding the conditions for returning Turkey to the F-35 program remains unchanged for now. While Turkish outlets anticipate a new phase in bilateral relations, there is no immediate indication of a formal reversal of the current administrative restrictions imposed by the U.S. government.