Amid ongoing discussions about the F-35, according to two individuals who spoke to the American news channel Fox, US President Donald Trump is considering restarting the sale of F-35 aircraft to Turkey and lifting some sanctions.

The US media expressed that President Donald Trump showed favor towards resuming F-35 sales to Turkey after his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A report based on two sources familiar with the matter, presented on Fox News, mentioned that Trump is contemplating the sale of F-35 jets to Ankara. It was reported that Trump is evaluating lifting sanctions against Turkey and restarting the sale of F-35 fighter planes after discussions with President Erdogan. The article stated, “If an agreement is reached where Turkey renders the S-400 systems inoperable, Trump is open to the idea of selling F-35 aircraft to Turkey.”

“REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS WILL BE REQUIRED” To facilitate the sale of such aircraft to Turkey, the United States must remove sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), as indicated in the news. Trump apparently has tasked his team with preparing a study concerning how Turkey could avoid CAATSA sanctions. Many bilateral and regional issues were discussed in a comprehensive manner during the phone call between President Erdogan and President Trump on March 16.

F-35 AIRCRAFT ARE A TOPIC OF DEBATE
Hidden within the F-35 jets from various countries, it is claimed that there is a secret “kill switch,” allowing the US to remotely render these aircraft unusable.

The producing firms, led by the American Lockheed Martin company, firmly deny these allegations. Nonetheless, experts suggest that even without a kill switch, reliance on the US for software updates and spare parts is a concern. It is stated that by cutting off technical support, the US could hinder the use of these aircraft. GERMANY’S CONTRACT REVEALED The discussions were further fueled by reports in the German Stern magazine. The magazine obtained the contract for Germany’s purchase of F-35s, which mandates that Germany should inform the US in advance before each flight. The contract also requires Germany to input all usage data into the Amazon cloud storage system.

It is said that the US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, insists on retaining the right to stop F-35 flights in extraordinary and emergency situations when national interests require it. Allegedly, the Pentagon did not allow German officials to review the computer code controlling the aircraft. The US’s dominance over the aircraft has raised concerns amongst European countries. According to a report in the British newspaper The Times, these concerns surged when the US temporarily cut off military aid to Ukraine, halting the transfer of equipment and spare parts.

US WEAPON ORDERS UNDER REVIEW
Certain European countries, worried about the inconsistent actions of the Trump administration, have started to reassess their weapon orders from the US. The Times highlighted that 21 countries that have purchased or ordered F-35s harbor serious concerns. While the UK and the Netherlands intend to continue using the planes, Canada and Portugal are reconsidering canceling orders. Calls have begun to cancel the orders for 35 aircraft placed by Germany in 2023. The German Ministry of Defense has announced its commitment to the agreements made with the US regarding F-35s.