The administration is advancing a sale of GE engines for Turkey's KAAN fighter jet ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara. A separate review of Turkey's F-35 eligibility is also underway.

The Deal

The Trump administration is advancing a $700 million sale of GE F110-GE-129 jet engines to Turkey—specifically 80 engines destined for Ankara's KAAN indigenous fighter aircraft. The sale is scheduled to move forward ahead of a NATO summit coming to Turkey, according to the Jerusalem Post and Algemeiner.

F-35 Eligibility Under Review

Vice President JD Vance indicated that a review is underway to examine Turkey's potential eligibility for F-35 fighter jets. Turkey has historically faced restrictions related to its defense partnerships, and any shift in eligibility would represent a significant policy change.

What It Means

These moves signal the Trump administration is willing to deepen defense ties with Turkey, possibly to strengthen NATO cohesion ahead of the Ankara summit and bolster an important regional ally. For defense contractors like GE, the immediate impact is near-term revenue from the engine sale. The F-35 review, if it results in eligibility restoration, would unlock substantially larger commercial stakes—the program represents billions in potential aircraft sales.