U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to inform Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is willing to support Turkey's return to the F-35 stealth fighter program, according to a report published by the New York Times on Monday, which cited four senior administration officials.
The report surfaced as Trump travels to Ankara for a NATO summit, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Erdogan. The gathering is due to begin on Tuesday evening.
The New York Times said the officials were not in agreement over the precise mechanism Trump could use to navigate existing legal and congressional barriers. However, they indicated that the two leaders could exchange letters addressing the matter.
The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the report.
Relations between Washington and Ankara deteriorated after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2019, a move that weakened congressional backing for the NATO ally. The United States subsequently imposed sanctions on Turkey and excluded it from the F-35 fighter jet program.
Congress also enacted legislation barring F-35 sales to Turkey for as long as Ankara retains the S-400 system, arguing that the Russian defense platform presents a security threat to U.S.-made combat aircraft. Despite warmer relations between Washington and Ankara during Trump's presidency, the dispute has continued to be a significant source of friction between the two countries.
The reported move points to a further thaw in bilateral relations, following the Trump administration's formal notification to Congress last month of its plan to sell dozens of jet engines valued at more than $700 million to Turkey, according to a copy of the notification reviewed by Reuters.
