The rules of international diplomacy are being rewritten on the fly. At the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump sat alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and dropped a bombshell. He openly declared he's lifting sanctions on Turkey and "certainly considering" bringing them back into the F-35 fighter jet program.
If you think this is just standard bilateral chatter, you're missing the bigger picture. This move directly upends years of strict American defense policy. It signals a massive shift in how Washington plans to handle the Russia-Ukraine war, using Turkey as the ultimate geopolitical bridge.
The F-35 Deal is Back on the Table
Back in 2019, the first Trump administration kicked Turkey out of the multi-national F-35 program. The reason was clear-cut. Erdogan had purchased S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia. The Pentagon panicked, arguing that active Russian radar tech running alongside America's premier stealth fighter could compromise the jet's classified capabilities. Congress stepped in later with CAATSA sanctions, legally locking Turkey out of the program until they got rid of the Russian hardware.
Fast forward to today. Sitting in Ankara's presidential compound, Trump threw that old playbook out the window. When asked about legal restrictions and the S-400 issue, he brushed it off. He praised Turkey as being "much more loyal than other countries."
Erdogan went even further. He stated that Trump previously promised Turkey five F-35 jets and that the US president "always keeps his promises." While Vice President JD Vance noted that the Pentagon is technically reviewing whether Turkey has met legal criteria, Trump bluntly cut through the bureaucracy with a simple phrase: "We will work it out."
Why This Matters for Ukraine and Russia
This isn't just about selling high-tech military hardware. It's a calculated chess move ahead of Trump's highly anticipated meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump has made it obvious that he wants a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He recently claimed that both Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy want an exit strategy, stating that an end to the conflict is "much closer than people realize." Turkey is uniquely positioned to broker that exact deal.
- The Black Sea Gatekeeper: Turkey controls the maritime straits entering the Black Sea, making them vital to any regional security architecture.
- The Diplomatic Conduit: Erdogan is one of the very few leaders who maintains an active, working relationship with both Putin and Zelenskyy.
- The Industrial Powerhouse: Turkey has supplied Ukraine with critical combat drones while refusing to cut off trade ties with Moscow.
By dangling the F-35 jets and promising to lift sanctions, Trump is giving Erdogan massive leverage to act as the primary mediator between Russia and Ukraine. It's a transactional approach to foreign policy. You help me deliver a peace deal on Ukraine, and I'll give you back your stealth fighters.
The Backlash Brewing in Washington and Beyond
Don't expect this plan to slide through smoothly. The domestic and international pushback started almost immediately.
Inside the US, influential lawmakers are already drawing battle lines. Republican Senator John Cornyn publicly voiced his opposition, reminding the administration that federal law explicitly prohibits transferring F-35 technology while Russian S-400 systems remain on Turkish soil. Passing a waiver through a skeptical Congress will be a brutal political fight.
Then there's the Middle East dynamic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly went on the offensive, blasting Erdogan's fierce opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza. Israel is currently the only nation in the Middle East operating the F-35. Giving those same stealth capabilities to Ankara completely alters the balance of power in the region, creating a major headache for traditional US allies.
What Happens Next
The administration already laid the groundwork for this shift last month by moving forward with a $700 million sale of American jet engines for Turkey's indigenous KAAN fighter jet program, bypassing congressional grumbling. The F-35 push is the logical next step.
Keep a close eye on the impending bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on the sidelines of this summit. If Turkey secures a concrete framework to rejoin the F-35 program, expect an immediate, heavy-handed push from Ankara to force Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table. The era of rigid, predictable alliance structures is officially over. Realpolitik is back in style.
