On 7 July 2026, President Trump announced the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey and consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara, contingent on resolving the S-400 air-defense issue. The Pentagon is reviewing whether Turkey can comply with U.S. law to regain F-35 program access, with a proposed workaround involving transferring the Russian-made S-400 to a third country, though no agreement exists and Russian approval remains uncertain. This move could reopen a major NATO defense relationship, shift U.S.-Turkey sanctions policy, and revive Turkey’s role in the F-35 supply chain. Concurrently, the administration approved a $700 million sale of General Electric F110 engines for Turkey’s KAAN fighter program, signaling warming defense ties despite unresolved legal and congressional hurdles that still block F-35 delivery under current restrictions.