"Donald Trump walks past the honor guard with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 7, 2026."
Posted on 07/07/2026 11:12:11 AM PDT by DFG
President Donald Trump, during the first day of the NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday, said he will consider allowing Turkey to buy American F-35 fighter jets -- despite possessing Russian-made air defense systems, which his first administration sanctioned the country for six years ago.
"It's a decision we're going to make," Trump said as he met Turkish President Recep Erdogan at Erdogan'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."
Turkey seeks to join a U.S. F-35 program but is prohibited from doing so under U.S. law as long as it possesses Russian-made air defenses.
In a 2020 release, Trump's former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said those systems "would endanger the security of U.S. 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, during an Oval Office meeting with Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week, said Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department were reviewing the Turkish purchase of American F-35 fighters, and Trump during that meeting teased a "gift" for Turkey, suggesting the sale.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
"Donald Trump walks past the honor guard with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 7, 2026."
Why?
It’s a “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours”....situation if there ever was one in mid east geo politics.
Just suspend the orders from the UK, Germany and Italy and France and give them to Turkey. It’s not as if our European “allies” are doing much for us. Not allowing us use of the bases was more than a sharp stick to the eye.
So what are we getting in return? Erdogan is friendly but that’s basically it. No evidence that he’s our ally.
One day Turkey will use those weapons on us.
Hopefully Trump is playing with him, I'm pretty sure he knows Erdogan is just another Putin.
The law blocking the sale is there for a reason.
If Turkey truly wants to truly be a military ally, they need to quit buying Russian arms.
In exchange for us staging an army on their eastern border?
It’s a “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours”....situation if there ever was one in mid east geo politics.
Just remember the kill switches.
why are we the world’s biggest arms dealer by a wide margin? has this policy made the world safer or better?
Big mistake. Turkey is not our friend.
Turkey provides critical strategic value to the United States through its geographic position, military infrastructure, and regional stability efforts.
Military Infrastructure: Turkey hosts key U.S. and NATO sites, including Incirlik Air Base, an early warning missile defense radar in eastern Turkey, and a NATO ground forces command in Izmir, facilitating the transport of arms, cargo, and personnel.
Geopolitical Control: Turkey controls access to the Black Sea via the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits under the Montreux Convention, serving as a vital anchor for NATO’s eastern and southern security.
Counterterrorism and Regional Security: Turkey contributes to U.S. policy by partnering on security in Afghanistan, supporting operations in Bosnia and the Horn of Africa, and helping ensure stability in neighboring conflict zones like Syria and Iraq.
Energy and Trade: Turkey acts as an energy corridor, diversifying imports away from Russia and collaborating with U.S. firms on projects in the Eastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus, thereby reducing Russian influence in the region.
Safer for us. Exhibit A: the Arab nations that buy weapons for us helped stop Iranian missiles, some of which were headed to American bases.
Hardly justifies the entire policy of being the world’s largest arms dealer for decades.
There are many more factors that go into being the arms dealer to world that are outside of narrow US self interest anecdotes.
Incredibly simplistic response that dodges moral/strategic questions about global stability, proliferation, human rights, and long-term US security costs (entanglement, blowback, damaged reputation).
Bad idea.
Not only that, but Turkey is an enemy of Israel. Big time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.