Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Advances $700 Million GE Jet Engine Sale to Turkey
6/25/2026, 12:50:00 AM
Engine Sale for Turkey’s Kaan Fighter
Washington intends to finalize the sale of dozens of General Electric F110-GE-129 jet engines to Turkey. The engines will power the Kaan, Ankara’s first indigenous combat jet launched in 2016. Sources say the package exceeds $700 million and will be completed within days, after which the State Department will formally notify Congress. The timing aligns with the NATO summit Turkey will host on July 7-8.
Context: Defense Friction
U.S.–Turkey defense relations have been strained since Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 program and sanctioned Ankara after its purchase of Russian S-400 air-defense systems. President Donald Trump, however, has publicly praised President Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently complained of a “hold-up” in the engine-sale process.
Key Actors
Principal figures are President Donald Trump, President Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Rep. Gregory Meeks, the State Department, Ambassador Tom Barrack, analyst Gonul Tol and analyst Arda Mevlutoglu.
Deal Numbers
The sale exceeds $700 million; sources cite “dozens” of engines, while Mevlutoglu mentions 80 F110-GE-129 units.
Official Responses
The State Department declined comment, noting that official correspondence with Congress is handled through official channels. Congressional review allows input but does not bind the administration. Turkey’s foreign ministry also declined comment. Ambassador Barrack said recent U.S.–Turkey talks were “the most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade.”
Opposition
Rep. Gregory Meeks objected during the informal review, questioning policy consistency. Analyst Gonul Tol called the purchase “the lowest-hanging fruit” and said the real test is Turkey’s return to the F-35 program. U.S. law still bars Turkey from operating the S-400 if it seeks F-35 participation.
Discrepancies
Sources differ on engine quantity—one says “dozens,” another cites 80 units. The sale’s value is only reported as “more than $700 million.” No Turkish official comment has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As a matter of general policy, we do not comment on pending arms transfers. Official correspondence with Congress is conducted through official channels,” — State Department official
- “Acquiring the engines is certainly important for Turkey, but it is also the lowest-hanging fruit for a US administration that has made far more ambitious promises to Ankara, including Turkey’s return to the F-35 program,” — Gonul Tol, Middle East Institute
- “the most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade.” — Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey
Outlook
Turkey will host the NATO summit on July 7-8, where allies will discuss burden-sharing and regional security. The State Department is expected to send a formal notification to Congress within days, and the engine sale may set a precedent for future U.S. arms transfers as F-35 and S-400 negotiations continue.
