Five NATO flash points as Trump meets anxious allies in Turkey

President Trump and other world leaders will confront a number of key issues facing NATO during the group’s tension-filled summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week. 

Trump’s pressure campaign to get other NATO member countries to up their defense spending will likely be top of mind, along with the future of U.S. troop commitments in Europe and collective support for Ukraine. 

The alliance will also be watching Trump closely for signals on whether the U.S. will allow Turkey back into its F-35 fighter jet program or lift remaining sanctions on Syria. 

Here are five flash points in this week’s NATO summit: 

Potential U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey 

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing against Trump’s apparent momentum toward reversing his first-term ban on selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. 

Trump told reporters during a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that he had no concerns about selling the jets to Turkey, adding he planned to lift sanctions blocking the weapons transfer. 

However, critics in Congress warn Ankara could share the technology with U.S. adversaries Russia and China, also pointing out that Turkey has not met the criteria for having the sanctions lifted — including its continued use of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

Congress blocked any transfer of the F-35 to Turkey so long as it possesses the Russian system, a condition codified in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The administration can issue a waiver by confirming with lawmakers that Turkey does not possess the Russian military equipment.

The potential move is being met with resistance from Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as well as Israel. 

“We write today to express deep concern about any effort to sell F-35s to Turkey,” a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote to Trump on July 2.

“With President Erdogan’s continued aggression toward our greatest partners along with his troubling defense partnerships with our adversaries, it is not in the best interest of our country to sell them F-35s,” they continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled his concern to Trump during a Fox News interview on Sunday.

“The other thing I’d like to say, because we’re on the verge of the president’s going to Turkey … I don’t think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter........

© The Hill