Trump to Restore Turkey's F-35 Access Amid Opposition

Former President Donald Trump intends to restore Turkey's access to the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, which was banned seven years ago due to Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system. Trump is expected to communicate this plan to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Ankara.

Senior administration officials have indicated that discussions are ongoing to work around congressional restrictions that block the sale of F-35s to Turkey unless it is determined that Turkey no longer possesses the Russian system. The F-35 program was previously suspended due to concerns that the S-400 could compromise the aircraft's stealth capabilities.

Trump has expressed a desire to make Erdogan happy by signaling intent to restore Turkey's participation in the program. However, there is uncertainty regarding the timing of this decision, and congressional opposition remains a significant hurdle, particularly from critics like Senator Jim Risch.