President Trump signaled Tuesday that he is eager to restore Turkey’s access to the F-35 fighter jet program, telling President Recep Tayyip Erdogan his country has been a powerful and loyal ally.
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Mr. Trump, sitting with Mr. Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, said inviting Turkey back into the F-35 sphere is “something certainly we would consider.”
“Why wouldn’t we do that?” Mr. Trump said. “Turkey, in many ways, has been much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal.”
Turkey used to be a member of the F-35 program. It was booted in 2019 during the first Trump administration because it acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system, which Washington viewed as a security risk.
The F-35 is considered a highly advanced stealth fighter that goes beyond bombing capability. Its radar and sensors enhance pilots’ capability and allow the plane to serve as a node in battle networks with other fighters.
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Mr. Trump must work through legal hurdles and restrictions from Congress before granting Turkey access, including assurance that the technology will not be shared with Russia or other third parties.
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“I have no concerns about anything having to do with Turkey,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump said he also planned to discuss defense, bilateral trade and the war in Iran with Mr. Erdogan.
“Turkey has become, under the president, a very powerful country, militarily. People don’t know how powerful, actually,” Mr. Trump said. “They really are somebody to be reckoned with.”
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