US President Donald Trump said he would likely move to lift sanctions on Turkey and hinted that a decision could be reached on whether Turkey will be allowed to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets, as Washington weighs how to manage long-running disputes between the NATO allies.

Trump made the remarks during an Oval Office meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, where questions from reporters focused on whether the two leaders could agree on a framework to restart Turkey’s path back to the US F-35 program. Trump responded with confidence that he would “probably do something” that would make Erdoğan “very happy,” adding that the two sides would reach an outcome soon.

The US decision to block Turkey’s access to F-35s dates back to Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system. US law and congressional action require the S-400 issue to be resolved before Turkey can receive the F-35, and the US removed Turkey from the program in 2019 after the S-400 deal. In the meantime, Congress also adopted sanctions tied to Turkey’s defense procurement related to the S-400 purchase under CAATSA.

Alongside Trump, Vice President JD Vance said Pentagon officials were reviewing whether Turkey has met US legal criteria to regain access to the F-35s. Trump added that outcomes would be known quickly—framing the issue as one of both sides’ mutual needs and the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough.

The meeting also highlighted how the broader Turkey–US relationship is being tested by the sanctions regime and by concerns raised in Washington about security risks and Turkey’s policies. Lawmakers have previously warned that lifting restrictions or allowing F-35 transfers would require clear compliance with US conditions tied to the S-400, and they have criticized the administration for attempting to move forward on defense-related items despite legal constraints.

While Trump suggested sanctions could be lifted “very soon,” the unresolved legal requirement remains the central obstacle to an F-35 deal: Turkey must address the S-400 system in a way that satisfies US law.