Ankara, Turkey. President Donald Trump is planning to proceed with the sale of dozens of General Electric jet engines to Turkey despite objections from some members of the US Congress, according to four sources familiar with the matter. The deal, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is viewed as a signal to Ankara ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey next month.
Engine sale linked to KAAN fighter project
The engines will power Turkey’s first indigenous combat aircraft, the KAAN, a flagship defence programme launched in 2016 as part of Ankara’s effort to reduce reliance on foreign military suppliers. One source said the package could be worth more than $700 million.
US-Turkey ties and unresolved disputes
Relations between Turkey and the United States have been broadly positive under Trump, who has often spoken favourably of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, tensions remain over Washington’s decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 fighter programme and impose sanctions after Ankara bought Russian S-400 air defence systems, which the United States says pose a security risk.
F-35 issue remains central
Analysts said the engine sale would be welcomed in Ankara but does not meet Turkey’s wider goal of rejoining the F-35 programme. Gonul Tol of the Middle East Institute said obtaining the engines was important for Turkey, but described it as the most achievable step for a US administration that had made broader promises.
She said the main test in bilateral relations remained whether Turkey would be readmitted to the programme. US law does not allow Turkey to operate the S-400 system if it is to rejoin the F-35 project.
NATO summit and congressional opposition
The US ambassador to Turkey has previously said talks between Trump and Erdogan had produced some of the most productive discussions in years. Turkey is due to host NATO leaders on July 7 and 8 amid wider tensions within the alliance over defence spending and regional security concerns linked to recent conflicts in the Middle East.
Some members of Congress continue to oppose the engine sale. Representative Gregory Meeks, a senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has raised objections during review discussions, according to sources. However, the administration is expected to continue because congressional objections are not binding.
State Department response and programme dependence
The State Department declined to comment on pending arms transfers, saying official communications with Congress are handled through established channels.
Turkey has sought approval for the engine deal for months, with officials previously expressing frustration over delays. The KAAN programme remains dependent on foreign engines in its early stages, with Turkish-developed alternatives expected in later phases of production.