Donald Trump is expected to tell Turkish leaders this week that he is willing to restore their access to the F-35 fighter jet program, a dramatic reversal of a ban he himself imposed years earlier.
The move comes as Trump heads to Ankara for a NATO summit. His original decision to block Turkey from the advanced aircraft stemmed from concerns that providing the jets could expose their stealth technology to Russian scrutiny.
The F-35, developed jointly by the U.S. and allied nations, represents one of the most closely guarded military technologies in the Western arsenal. Its stealth capabilities are considered essential to American and allied air superiority. The fear that hostile powers might gain insight into how the aircraft evades detection has guided defense policy for years.
Turkey's removal from the program was contentious. Ankara had been a NATO member and participant in the F-35 development effort, making the exclusion both a diplomatic and military blow to a key regional ally. The Turkish government had pushed back repeatedly against the restrictions.
Trump's apparent willingness to reverse course signals a potential thaw in tensions with Ankara, though the exact conditions or timeline for restoration remain unclear. The gesture arrives at a moment when NATO cohesion and relationships with member states carry heightened importance in Trump's strategic thinking.
Whether the reversal will proceed and what safeguards might accompany renewed F-35 access are questions likely to emerge from the summit discussions.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Trump backing down on F-35 restrictions to Turkey shows how fast geopolitical calculations shift when it suits his interests."
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