Trump: Turkey to Receive F-35s; Deal with Iran is Over

Turkey's Return to the F-35 Club and Lifting of Sanctions In a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Donald Trump announced that Washington is seriously considering Ankara's return to the F-35 stealth fighter program. Praising Turkey's "loyalty," Trump emphasized that the time has come to lift the sanctions imposed under the CAATSA law. [1] Regarding this, he said: "We don't want to sanction our friends. Turkey has been much more loyal in many cases than countries we thought were loyal." [4] This decision comes after Turkey was expelled from the project in 2019 due to the purchase of the S-400 defense system from Russia. However, Trump has now indicated that security concerns regarding the S-400 are solvable, and these systems will likely be transferred to a third country to pave the way for F-35 delivery. [3][4] ## End of the Deal with Iran: "They are Sick People" In another part of his controversial remarks in Ankara, Trump declared that the memorandum of understanding and temporary ceasefire with Iran is "finished" in his view. Using very harsh language, he called Iranian leaders "sick people" and "scum," stating he no longer has any desire to deal with Tehran. [2][3] This stance follows heavy exchanges of fire between US forces and Iran in the region and attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump emphasized: "As far as I'm concerned, dealing with them is just a waste of time. They are liars." [2] These words signify the collapse of the initial agreement reached last month to reopen shipping lanes and discuss the nuclear program. [3] ## Regional Reactions and Domestic Opposition Trump's promise to Turkey has met with a sharp reaction from Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that selling F-35s to Turkey endangers regional security. [1] Inside the United States, many members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties have expressed skepticism about this sudden shift. They believe that until Turkey completely abandons the S-400 system, it should not have access to sensitive F-35 technology. [4] ## Strategic Implications for NATO Trump's remarks at the Ankara summit have placed the NATO alliance in a complex situation. While he calls Turkey a loyal ally, he heavily criticized European countries such as Spain, Italy, and France for their lack of support for US military operations against Iran. [1][2] Trump even ordered the cutting of trade relations with Spain, calling the country a "terrible partner" in NATO. [2] This approach indicates a fundamental change in Washington's strategic priorities and a focus on individual allies instead of traditional alliance structures.