Trump lifts defense sanctions on Turkey, clearing way to give Erdogan F-35s — despite GOP, Israeli opposition

by Newsman July 7, 2026, 8:12 am 316 Views

ANKARA, Turkey — President Trump said Tuesday he was lifting sanctions that bar the sale of certain military equipment to Turkey — potentially paving the way for the provision of advanced F-35 fighter jets.

Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shaking hands, with a man in historic Turkish military attire in the foreground and a Turkish flag nearby. — Trump with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an arrival ceremony for POTUS at the Bestepe Presidential Compound in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Doug Mills/The New York Times/The New York Times Pool via AP

“We don’t want to sanction friends,” Trump told reporters.

Follow The Post’s live coverage of President Trump and national politics for the latest news and analysis

Trump in 2020 imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act as punishment for the Eurasian nation buying S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia — formalizing a 2019 decision that removed Turkey from eligibility for F-35s.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.