Trump pledges F-35 sale to Turkey and lifts sanctions at NATO summit, alarming Israel
President Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Turkey and signaled a willingness to sell F-35 fighter jets during a NATO summit in Ankara, drawing sharp opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A warm welcome in Ankara
President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday for a two-day NATO summit, becoming the first U.S. president to visit Turkey in 11 years. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted him at the airport with a lavish state ceremony, including a red-white-and-blue air show and a horse-mounted escort to the presidential palace. The two leaders walked arm-in-arm, and Erdogan later referred to Trump as his "dear friend." A new airport building was named after Trump, underscoring the personal rapport between the two men.
It was valuable that Trump emphasised the importance he places on myself and our friendship. I thank my dear friend once again.
Sanctions lifted and F-35s on the table
During their bilateral talks, Trump announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey over its 2019 purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. "It's time. We don't want to sanction friends," Trump said, adding that his secretaries of state and treasury were working on the issue. He also signaled a willingness to sell Turkey F-35 stealth fighter jets, calling it "the best plane by far" and saying it was "certainly something we will consider." Turkish officials told Bloomberg that Ankara is looking to secure an initial delivery of six F-35 jets, fewer than the 40-odd it had previously sought.
Turkey has been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal.... It's a great plane, it's the best, currently the best plane by far. And it's certainly something we will consider.
Netanyahu's fierce opposition
The prospect of F-35s in Turkish hands drew an immediate and sharp reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a CNN interview, he warned that the sale would "destroy the power balance in the Middle East" and accused Turkey of harboring "aggressive aspirations." Netanyahu said he had made his opposition clear to Trump in several calls ahead of the summit. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss the matter, with Iran also on the agenda.
It would destroy the power balance in the Middle East because Turkey has aggressive aspirations. When you give them that power, you're going to see aggression in its wake.
- Trump lands in Ankara, greeted by Erdogan with a state ceremony including an air show and horse escort.
- Trump announces the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Turkey and signals willingness to sell F-35 jets.
- Netanyahu tells CNN the F-35 sale would 'destroy the power balance in the Middle East.'
- U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth scheduled to meet Netanyahu to discuss the F-35 sale.
- NATO summit ends; Trump defends Erdogan and says there was 'a lot of unity.'
Summit dynamics and broader tensions
Trump's attendance at the summit was itself a diplomatic win for Turkey; the U.S. president said he came only because Erdogan was the host. On Wednesday, however, Trump threw the gathering into disarray by demanding the U.S. cut trade ties with Spain and reiterating his claims on Greenland, angering NATO ally Denmark. He later insisted there had been "a lot of unity" at the leaders' meeting. Sitting alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump defended Erdogan against Netanyahu's criticism, a move that highlighted the growing divergence between Washington and Tel Aviv. The summit closed with Erdogan thanking his "dear friend" and Trump promising to drop sanctions, though the F-35 sale still faces legal hurdles in Congress.
