US Plans to Lift F-35 Embargo on Turkey Amid NATO Summit Tensions

Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump is expected to officially inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the United States will allow Turkey to purchase F-35 fighter jets. This move raises significant concerns in Israel, which currently holds exclusive air superiority in the region with these advanced aircraft. Four senior US officials told The New York Times that Trump aims to bypass existing legislation and potential Congressional opposition to facilitate the sale.

The 2020 legal restrictions blocking the sale stem from Turkey's acquisition of Russian air defense systems in 2019, which led to its removal from the F-35 program. The US administration is reportedly considering options such as transferring the Russian systems to a third party to clear the way for the deal. Trump, who described Erdogan as "my friend," revealed in a recent White House press briefing that Erdogan personally invited him to the NATO summit and that he intends to do something to please the Turkish leader, emphasizing Turkey's military significance.

The plan has sparked strong diplomatic backlash. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Washington not to provide Turkey with the jets or their engines, warning that it could destabilize the Middle East balance of power and undermine Israel's air dominance and US influence in the region. Concurrently, a bipartisan group of US Congress members sent a formal letter to the White House expressing deep concern over the deal, citing Turkey's ongoing aggression, security ties with Iran, and Erdogan's escalating anti-Israel rhetoric.