Trump signals major shift on Türkiye, vowing to ease CAATSA sanctions and revisit F-35 sales
US president said he would lift sanctions tied to Ankara's S-400 purchase and reconsider Türkiye's exclusion from F-35 program
ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) — U.S. President Donald Trump announced a significant shift in Washington’s policy toward Türkiye, saying he intends to lift sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and signaling that the United States could restore Ankara’s access to the F-35 fighter jet program.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump told reporters he plans to lift the sanctions because, in his view, the United States should not punish allied nations. He said he is working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to finalize the decision, framing it as part of an effort to rebuild strategic trust with Ankara.
The pledge highlights the tension between presidential diplomacy and the legal framework governing US sanctions. CAATSA penalties were imposed on Türkiye in 2020 after it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system, and federal law limits a president’s ability to terminate them permanently without following congressional procedures.
The White House can adjust enforcement or pursue waivers, but fully dismantling the sanctions regime would invite legal and political challenges in Congress.
Trump also said he would seriously consider restoring F-35 sales, calling Türkiye a more dependable ally than several other NATO members and describing the aircraft as the world’s leading combat jet.
Ankara was removed from the program in 2019, before the CAATSA sanctions followed a year later. Trump dismissed longstanding concerns that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 poses a security risk — a stance that breaks with years of bipartisan US defense policy.
Trump praised Erdoğan at length, calling him a respected global leader who has built Türkiye into a major military power, and pointed to their personal rapport as a driver of closer cooperation — a reflection of his preference for leader-to-leader diplomacy over institutional channels.
For Ankara, the remarks offer a chance to reverse one of the sharpest disputes in Turkish-American defense relations.
Türkiye has long argued that its removal from the F-35 program was politically motivated and that the S-400 does not threaten NATO security, maintaining that the decision set back both its military modernization and the alliance’s collective defense.
Erdoğan said he was confident the summit could produce a favorable outcome, arguing that earlier commitments on the aircraft should be honored. He also cited ongoing talks over General Electric F110 engines for Türkiye’s domestically developed KAAN fighter as another sign of improving cooperation.
The exchange points to a shift in Washington’s priorities, with the administration appearing more willing to place geopolitical competition above past disputes over Russian arms purchases and to treat Ankara as an essential regional partner rather than an outlier to be isolated.
Trump extended his criticism to European allies.
He voiced frustration with France, Germany, and Italy over what he called insufficient support during the recent conflict with Iran and questioned Europe’s contribution to collective security, warning that the United States could reconsider its military presence on the continent if European governments continue to lean on American guarantees. He also framed immigration and energy policy as long-term strategic risks to Europe’s stability.
On the war in Ukraine, Trump claimed both President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remain open to a negotiated settlement, praised Türkiye’s mediation, and suggested Ankara could keep playing a central role in future talks. Erdoğan echoed that, while pointing to Turkish efforts to improve U.S.-Iran relations and ease tensions in Gaza.
Trump also praised Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, crediting him with stabilizing the country and hinting at a wider reassessment of U.S. policy toward Damascus.
Whether the announcements translate into lasting policy will depend on congressional oversight, alliance dynamics, and the security environment facing NATO.
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