Exclusive-US to move forward with Turkey jet engine sales ahead of NATO summit, sources say

Ahead of the NATO summit in Turkey next month, the Trump administration is planning to proceed with the sale of dozens of jet engines to Ankara, sources told Reuters. The engines, produced by General Electric, will power Turkey’s first indigenous combat jet, the KAAN, a program launched in 2016 aimed at greater defense self-sufficiency within NATO. One source said the package is worth more than $700 million, despite objections from some members of the U.S. Congress. While the deal is expected to be welcomed in Turkey, analysts said it may fall short of Ankara’s broader goal of rejoining the F-35 program. The U.S. removed Turkey from F-35 and later imposed sanctions after Ankara acquired Russia’s S-400 air defenses. Reuters reports congressional review concerns, including objections raised by Rep. Gregory Meeks, but a finalization in coming days is expected, followed by formal notification to Congress.