US approves big jet engine sale to Turkey before NATO meeting

A Strategic Move to Strengthen Ties

The United States has greenlit a $700+ million deal to sell advanced jet engines to Turkey, powering its first domestically built fighter jet, the Kaan. The announcement arrives just weeks before Turkey hosts the NATO summit in Washington, signaling Washington’s intent to reinforce its alliance with Ankara despite lingering disputes.

A Rocky Road to Cooperation

US-Turkey relations have faced significant strain in recent years. Washington expelled Turkey from the F-35 program and imposed sanctions after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 missile defense systems—a move the US deemed a security threat. Turkey insists the systems are purely defensive, but the disagreement has cast a shadow over bilateral relations.

Yet, the US is pressing forward with the engine sale—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from some American lawmakers, including a leading Democratic figure in Congress. Normally, Congress receives formal notification before major arms deals, but this transaction may proceed quietly and swiftly, with the State Department remaining tight-lipped on the rationale behind the move.

Turkey’s Long-Awaited Breakthrough

For Turkey, the deal represents a hard-won milestone. The country’s foreign minister publicly criticized delays a year ago, urging the US to finalize the sale. With the NATO summit looming, Ankara may finally see its persistence rewarded.

The summit itself arrives at a contentious moment for the alliance. Divisions persist over defense spending obligations and NATO’s role in Middle Eastern conflicts, making this high-stakes meeting even more complex.

As geopolitical tensions rise, the engine deal underscores the delicate balance between cooperation and confrontation in US-Turkey relations.