U.S. President Donald Trump left the door open to fulfilling some of Turkey’s defense-related requests during joint remarks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. When asked about the possibility of selling F-35 fighter jets to Ankara—and about exporting aircraft engines destined for Turkey’s domestically developed Kaan fighter jet—Trump responded that the U.S. would “likely do something” to satisfy Turkish demands.
At the same time, U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted that Washington is still assessing whether Turkey remains in compliance with U.S. law regarding its acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
Earlier, Reuters reported that the U.S. government is considering approving the sale of dozens of General Electric-built aircraft engines to Turkey for the Kaan fighter program. According to reports, the total value of the potential deal could exceed $700 million.
Trump also spoke about his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stating he would not attend a NATO summit in Ankara unless Erdoğan remained in power—underscoring the importance he places on bilateral ties.
On other current issues, Trump called any Iran nuclear deal involving shipment fees “unacceptable.” He also commented on the war in Ukraine, saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “doing well.”
Finally, Trump revealed that energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron are among the companies under investigation amid rising gasoline prices in the United States—a move that echoes his repeated accusations of profiteering against the oil industry.