Trump to tell Turkey ready to restore access to F-35 jets

US President Donald Trump is expected to tell Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he is prepared to allow ​the country to rejoin the F-35 stealth fighter program, ‌the New York Times reported on Monday, citing four senior administration officials.

The report comes as Trump heads to Ankara for a NATO summit, where ​he is expected to meet Erdogan. The summit is set to ​begin on Tuesday evening.

According to the New York Times ⁠report, the officials differed on the details of how Trump ​would seek to work around congressional and legal restrictions, but ​suggested there could be an exchange of letters on the subject between the two leaders.

The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for ​comment on the report.

Turkey's 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system ​has soured ties with the United States and hampered congressional support for Ankara. ‌In ⁠response, Washington imposed sanctions and removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme.

Congress also passed a law prohibiting any sales of F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara remained in possession of ​the S-400s, saying ​the Russian system poses ⁠a security risk to US-made combat aircraft.

The issue has remained a major point of contention between the two ​countries even though Turkey enjoys warmer ties with ​Washington under ⁠Trump.

The reported development is a sign of improving ties between the two countries, especially after Trump’s administration formally notified Congress of its intention ⁠to ​sell dozens of jet engines worth ​more than $700 million to Turkey last month, according to a copy of the formal notification seen ​by Reuters.

-Reuters