BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. US President Donald Trump has praised Türkiye as "a great ally" and described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "a friend" while responding to questions about the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.
Speaking to reporters, Trump dismissed suggestions that Israel's opposition should influence Washington's decision on future arms sales to Türkiye.
"Türkiye has been a great ally for me," Trump said, emphasizing the importance of bilateral relations between the two NATO allies.
The US president also referred to Erdogan as "a friend", highlighting their personal relationship.
"Nobody tells me what we should be selling or not," Trump said, indicating that decisions on US arms exports would be made by his administration.
His comments come as discussions continue over Türkiye's interest in acquiring F-35 fighter aircraft, an issue that has remained a point of debate in US foreign and defense policy.
Trump's remarks may renew speculation about the future of US-Türkiye defense cooperation, particularly regarding advanced military equipment and strategic relations within NATO.
