Trump Expected To Tell Erdogan US To Allow F-35 Purchase Despite Israeli Pressure - Report

On 7 July 2026, Trump met Erdogan as a NATO summit started. Reuters wrote that Trump said the US will lift sanctions on Turkey and heaped praise on Erdogan. Alongside Erdogan, Trump said the US will "certainly consider" selling F-35 jets to Turkey and praised his host for not fighting with Iran against Israel. Erdogan said Trump promised five F-35 jets and "always keeps his promises", and said Turkey would discuss KAAN engines with the US. The Hindu wrote that Trump berated NATO while praising Erdogan, and TASS wrote that Trump is convinced Erdogan helps resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Israel voiced pressure against the sale. Netanyahu said on CNN that Turkey is not a "friendly country" to the US and "not exactly a model ally". He also said he has doubts about the success of Trump's Iran diplomacy, but that Trump "should be given a chance". The visiting German foreign minister said Iran's missiles and proxies must be part of US-Iran talks.