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U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Washington will lift CAATSA sanctions on Türkiye and consider restoring the country's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program during a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Complex in Ankara ahead of their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
"We will make a decision on the F-35 issue. Our relationship is very good right now," Trump told reporters when asked about the fighter jet program, describing Ankara as "much more loyal than other countries."
On sanctions imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), Trump was equally direct. "The time has come. We will do it," he said, adding later that his administration was working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials to remove the sanctions.
Trump also brushed aside concerns over Türkiye's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, signaling that the issue would not stand in the way of closer defense cooperation.
Trump also signaled support for continued U.S. assistance for Türkiye's military aviation sector, saying Washington has an obligation to provide maintenance and support for aircraft engines supplied to Ankara. "When you buy a plane from us ... if the engine needs work or has to be upgraded, I think we have an obligation to do it," he said.
Erdogan welcomed Trump's remarks, saying the F-35 issue was not new for Türkiye and had been under discussion with Washington for years."I believe this leaders' summit will produce a favorable decision on the F-35 issue," Erdogan said, adding that Trump had previously promised five F-35 fighter jets and had always kept his word.
The Turkish president also voiced confidence that Trump would reaffirm "good news" regarding U.S. support for engines powering Türkiye's indigenous KAAN fighter jet.
Earlier in the day, Erdogan personally welcomed Trump upon his arrival at the Esenboga Airport before hosting him with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex.
After the press conference, the two leaders held bilateral talks with their delegations on the sidelines of the two-day NATO summit in Ankara, where alliance leaders are discussing higher defense spending, continued support for Ukraine and efforts to strengthen NATO's defense industrial base.
Türkiye was a partner in the multinational F-35 program and planned to purchase 100 F-35A fighter jets while producing hundreds of components for the aircraft through its defense industry.
The United States removed Türkiye from the program in 2019 after Ankara took delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, arguing that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could compromise the stealth fighter's sensitive technology. Türkiye rejected the claim, insisting the systems posed no security risk and repeatedly proposed forming a joint technical working group to address U.S. concerns.
In December 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on Türkiye's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) under CAATSA. The measures included export license restrictions and asset freezes targeting senior defense officials, further straining defense ties between the NATO allies.
Since then, Ankara has sought both the removal of CAATSA sanctions and its return to the F-35 program, arguing that its exclusion was unjustified and inconsistent with the alliance's collective defense interests. Trump's latest remarks mark the strongest indication yet that Washington may reverse both decisions.
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