The President of United States (US) Donald Trump has said on the first day of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Summit in Ankara on Tuesday that he would consider allowing Turkiye to purchase American F-35 fighter jets, despite Turkiye’s possession of Russian-made air defense systems, which had led his first administration to sanction the country six years earlier.

“It’s a decision we’re going to make,” Trump said while meeting Turkish President Recep Erdogan at the latter’s presidential compound.

“We have a better relationship with Turkey and Turkey’s been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal,” Trump said.

“So, it’s something, certainly, we would consider. It’s a great plane, it’s the best, currently the best plane by far and it’s certainly something we will consider.”

Turkiye has been seeking entry into the US F-35 program but remains barred under US law as long as it continues to possess Russian-made air defenses.

In a 2020 statement, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that those systems “would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel and provide substantial funds to Russia’s defense sector, as well as Russian access to the Turkish armed forces and defense industry.”

Vice President JD Vance had stated during an Oval Office meeting with Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon were reviewing Turkey’s F-35 purchase and Trump used the same meeting to hint at a “gift” for Turkey, pointing toward the possible sale.

Trump later said that the US had an “obligation” to maintain the engines of planes Turkiye has already purchased, adding that Turkiye has been “more helpful” on Iran compared to other NATO members.

He also criticised other NATO allies over their reluctance to join US military operations aimed at reopening and patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.

“I was very disappointed with NATO,” Trump said. “And frankly, if it weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended.”

Trump noted that he had no objection to Turkiye’s continued use of Russian air defense systems, telling reporters, “I have no concerns at all about anything.”

He also said that his administration was working to lift sanctions on Turkiye, saying that “it’s time.” The sanctions had been imposed by his first administration in 2020 over Turkiye’s acquisition of the Russian systems.

“I can tell you we’re going to take the sanctions off,” Trump said, responding to a Turkish question that appeared directed at Erdogan. “I don’t want him to waste his time answering that question.”

Trump added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Hegseth were working on the matter.

“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off. It’s time to do that, OK?” he said.