Trump Says US Will Lift CAATSA Sanctions on Türkiye, 'Consider' F-35 Sale

Meeting Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7, 2026, President Trump said the US would remove sanctions imposed on Türkiye under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) — imposed after Ankara's 2019 purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems led to Türkiye's expulsion from the F-35 program. 'We're going to be taking the sanctions off; it's time,' Trump said, adding he would soon decide on resuming F-35 sales and calling the jet 'the best plane by far.' Erdoğan said he hoped for a 'favourable decision,' noting Türkiye had previously been promised five jets. Any return to the F-35 program still requires a presidential determination under a 2020 law that Türkiye no longer possesses or operates the S-400 system. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly urged against the sale, saying it would upset the regional balance of power.