The Trump administration has moved to proceed with a proposed $750 million sale of F-110 jet engines to Türkiye, according to media reports.
The administration informed Congress that it intends to proceed with the sale of the jet engines, which are produced by General Electric to power Türkiye's first domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, describing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a "great partner in the region."
The move serves as an important gesture to Ankara ahead of a NATO summit there next month, where Trump is set to meet with President Erdogan.
The sale is expected to be finalised in the coming days, followed by a formal notification to Congress from the State Department.
The review process allows lawmakers to weigh in.
“The administration always maintains maximum transparency with Congress,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Anadolu.
A Trump administration official defended the move, citing US President Donald Trump's close ties with President Erdogan.
“The administration always maintains maximum transparency with Congress,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Anadolu.
“In addition to maintaining regular communication with the Hill, (US) Ambassador (to Türkiye Tom) Barrack, Department of War officials and State Department officials have all briefed Congress in person on this topic,” the official added.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he is likely to take a step that would make Türkiye “very happy” when asked about Ankara’s request for F-35 fighter jets and jet engines.
Trump is expected to travel to Ankara for the NATO summit on July 7-8, where he is set to meet with President Erdogan.
US suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019 after objecting to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, claiming the system would endanger the fighter jets and is inoperable with NATO systems.
Türkiye has repeatedly said there is no conflict between the two and has proposed a commission to study the issue.
Türkiye also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that its suspension broke the rules.
Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye but also NATO.
