Trump teases F-35 access for Turkey, says Erdogan will be 'very happy'

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Washington DC: US President Donald Trump signaled on Wednesday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be ‘very happy’ regarding Turkey's potential access to F-35 fighter jets. Responding to inquiries about a potential ‘big gift’ for his counterpart ahead of next month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Trump suggested a policy shift is likely.

The United States previously removed Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 following the country’s purchase of Russian missile defense systems. While Trump has recently moved to improve relations with Erdogan, any reversal of the 2019 decision faces significant obstacles.

Vice President JD Vance clarified that selling the Lockheed Martin F-35 jets requires formal approval from the US Congress. Furthermore, Vance emphasised that Turkey must demonstrate full compliance with American law before any such acquisition can proceed.

Photo credits: AFP