Full Breakdown
Trump Announces Sanctions Lift and F-35 Consideration at NATO Summit
7/7/2026, 9:51:12 PM
Core Announcement at Ankara Summit
President Donald Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara that the United States would lift the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions on Turkey and would “consider” restoring Turkey’s access to the F-35 stealth fighter jet program. He framed the move as a reward for Turkey’s “loyalty” and said the S-400 would not delay the decision.
Background: Exclusion, Sanctions and Legal Barriers
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after buying the Russian S-400 system, prompting CAATSA sanctions in 2020 and a statutory ban in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1245). The law requires the executive to certify that Turkey no longer possesses the S-400 before any F-35 transfer can occur, a step not yet taken.
NATO Defense-Spending Push
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker reiterated the Trump-driven target for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5 % of GDP by 2035, up from 2 %. The United States spends about 3 % of its GDP on defense; Whitaker said Poland, the Nordic and Baltic states are on track while many allies “lag behind.”
Official Statements
Trump stressed “we don’t want to sanction friends” and highlighted “strong chemistry” with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said he had been promised five F-35 jets. Undersecretary of Defense Michael Duffy linked the defense-spending agenda to increased U.S. production for European partners.
Criticism & Opposition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that selling F-35s to Turkey would upset the regional power balance. A bipartisan group of lawmakers—including Republicans Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, Gus Bilirakis, Jeff Hurd, Max Miller, Young Kim and Democrats Stephen Lynch, Gabe Amo, Jared Moskowitz, Brad Sherman—issued a letter expressing “deep concern” over the sale, citing the S-400, Turkey’s role in Northern Cyprus and ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Congress has also introduced a resolution to block the sale of F-110 engines.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Trump asserted “no concerns” about the S-400, yet U.S. law ties the system to the F-35 ban. Reuters cited unnamed sources discussing possible relocation of the S-400 to a third country, but no agreement has been confirmed. The exact timetable for any F-35 decision remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’re going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?” — President Donald Trump, press conference in Ankara.
- “I have no concerns about anything.” — President Donald Trump, on Turkey’s S-400.
- “We write today to express deep concern about any effort to sell F-35s to Turkey,” — Bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers.
- “I don’t think they should be given F-35s or engines for their fighter jets,” — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, interview with Fox & Friends.
What’s Next
Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the summit’s sidelines and hold further talks with Erdogan on the S-400 issue. Congressional action on CAATSA and the NDAA will determine whether the F-35 sale proceeds, while NATO’s 5 % spending target will shape alliance policy through 2026.
