Trump Praises Turkey's Loyalty, Immediately Decide on F-35 Fighter Jet Sales

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said he would soon decide on the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey - despite a ban from Congress. Trump praised the country as a more loyal party than other aircraft recipients.

Trump will lift sanctions against Turkey related to the purchase of Russian air defense systems.

"We have a better relationship with Turkey, and in many ways, Turkey is much more loyal than other countries we thought would be loyal," Trump said, quoted by CNN, Tuesday, July 7.

Trump said many believed Turkey should be able to buy the F-35, despite its purchase of the Russian air defense system.

"It's a great plane, it's the best - by far the best plane out there - and certainly something we'll consider," he said.

Previously, US officials told CNN, Trump is expected to signal this week his willingness to sell the F-35 to Turkey, which would mean reversing a ban he put in place during his first term - a ban that has since been signed into law.

It is not clear exactly how Trump plans to circumvent the congressional ban on the sale of the fighter jets.

However, Trump said Turkey was an "extraordinary" ally and the US had an obligation to fulfill the military equipment orders that the country had submitted.

When asked about the US sanctions that emerged as a result of Turkey's procurement of the Russian S-400 system, Trump said the sanctions would be lifted soon.

"We will lift those sanctions. We don't want to impose sanctions on friends," he said.