US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his administration would soon decide whether to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey despite congressional restrictions, while announcing plans to lift sanctions imposed on Ankara over its purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

Speaking during the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump described Turkey as an “extraordinary” ally and said Washington would consider allowing the country to acquire F-35 aircraft. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meanwhile, expressed optimism about securing the fighter jets and US-made engines for Turkey’s indigenous KAAN aircraft programme.

Trump Says F-35 Sale To Turkey Under Consideration

Trump said relations between Washington and Ankara had improved and argued that Turkey had demonstrated greater loyalty than some other US allies.

“We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal,” Trump said.

The US President said many people believed Turkey should be permitted to purchase the F-35 despite Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.

Calling the F-35 “the best plane by far”, Trump said selling the fighter jets to Turkey was “certainly something we will consider.”

Congressional Restrictions Remain Obstacle To F-35 Sale

US officials said Trump was expected to signal during the week that he was willing to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, reversing a ban imposed during his first presidential term.

The restriction was subsequently codified into law by the US Congress, creating a legal obstacle to any proposed sale.

It remains unclear how the Trump administration intends to overcome congressional restrictions and proceed with the transfer of the fighter aircraft.

Trump said the United States had an obligation to honour orders already placed by Turkey for the military aircraft.

Trump Says US Will Lift Sanctions On Turkey

Trump also announced that sanctions imposed on Turkey over its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defence system would be removed.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump said.

“We don’t want to sanction friends,” he added.

Washington had imposed sanctions on Ankara following Turkey’s purchase of the Russian air defence system, which had also contributed to the country’s exclusion from the F-35 programme.

Erdogan Says Turkey Was Promised Five F-35 Fighter Jets

Erdogan said Ankara believed it was close to securing an agreement to purchase US-made F-35 fighter jets following his bilateral meeting with Trump.

The Turkish President said his country had “been promised five jets” and expressed confidence that discussions with Washington would produce progress.

“We believe that President Trump also has made a promise on this separately… and we are hoping that the news we have previously received is going to be productively tested towards the future,” Erdogan said.

Erdogan said he expected Trump to honour commitments made regarding the proposed fighter jet sale.

“President Trump has always been a man of his word, and hopefully, with respect to the F-35, we will have a fruitful outcome and a decision from this leaders’ summit,” he added.

Turkey Seeks US Engines For KAAN Fighter Aircraft

Turkey is also seeking American-made engines for its indigenous KAAN fighter jet programme.

Erdogan said Trump had provided encouraging indications regarding Ankara’s request for the aircraft engines.

“President Trump has given us some good news, and I believe that he will repeat that good news again, and I think with this good news, probably, I will be thanking him during this summit,” Erdogan said.

The discussions over F-35 fighter jets, sanctions and engines for Turkey’s KAAN programme come as Washington and Ankara seek to strengthen defence cooperation and bilateral ties during the NATO summit.

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