US-Turkey relations

President Donald Trump said in Ankara that the United States will lift defense sanctions on Turkiye and is considering a possible return to the F-35 fighter jet program, according to Reuters reporting republished by GV Wire.

The comments came during Trump’s visit for the NATO summit and signaled a notable shift in a dispute that began after Turkiye bought Russia’s S-400 missile system. That purchase led to sanctions and Turkiye’s removal from the F-35 program, making any new opening a major development for both governments.

Reuters said Trump described the move as part of a broader effort to reset relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Even so, the report noted that legal and congressional barriers still stand in the way of any final decision.

For Turkish Americans, the announcement is significant because it could affect defense ties, U.S.-Turkiye cooperation, and the tenor of public debate about the relationship between the two countries. It also puts Ankara back at the center of an issue that many community members follow closely.

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