Trump Lifts Turkey Sanctions and Signals F-35 Sales at NATO Summit

During the 36th NATO Leaders' Summit in Ankara, Donald Trump announced the removal of sanctions imposed on Türkiye under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) following Ankara's 2019 purchase of Russian S-400 systems. Trump signaled a potential return for Türkiye to the F-35 fighter jet program and discussed selling F110 engines for the indigenous KAAN project, praising President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a loyal ally.

These moves drew sharp opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that providing advanced aircraft to Ankara would destroy the regional balance of power and compromise Israel's air superiority. Tensions further escalated as Trump declared a ceasefire with Iran over following U.S. retaliatory strikes in Tehran, triggered by Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth subsequently canceled a planned visit to Israel.

On the summit's sidelines, Trump also moved to normalize relations with Syria, announcing the removal of sanctions and the decision to strip Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. He held bilateral talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, though al-Sharaa rejected U.S. requests for military intervention in Lebanon.

Despite these diplomatic shifts, the summit was marked by friction with European allies. Trump criticized NATO spending, threatened to cut trade with Spain, and reiterated demands for the U.S. to take control of Greenland from Denmark. While Trump characterized the gathering as a period of unity, several European leaders refused to support his offensive operations against Iran.