Trump says he will lift Turkiye sanctions, decide on selling F-35s

ANKARA: US President Donald Trump said he would lift sanctions off Turkiye and make a decision on a potential sale of F-35s to Ankara as he began a meeting on Tuesday with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at a NATO summit. “We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump told reporters when asked about the measures imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. In 2020, Washington imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkiye over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems. It also removed Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move Turkiye called unjust and illegal. Trump lands in Ankara for NATO summit: AFP Trump was expected to throw his support behind the potential sale of F-35s during the visit to Ankara, two sources familiar with the matter said ​on Tuesday, even as legal and congressional hurdles have yet to be fully resolved. “It’s a decision we’re going to make,” Trump said. He said he and Erdogan would also discuss trade. Sitting next to him, Erdogan said he was confident Trump would resolve the issue and end the dispute. “Mr. Trump has also personally given us his word on this matter,” he said through a translator. “On this issue, Mr. Trump always stands by his word. Here again, God willing, I believe a favourable decision on the F-35s will emerge from this leaders’ summit.”