Trump Plans to Restore Turkey's F-35 Access in Major Geopolitical Shift

Key Facts

In a move reflecting a fundamental shift in defense relations among NATO allies, President Trump is reportedly planning to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program. According to reports from The New York Times, this initiative aims to reverse Ankara's previous exclusion and restore close military ties. This direction is expected to bolster security cooperation and expand production capacity within the defense industry.

This shift comes as major defense contractors maintain strong momentum; Lockheed Martin (LMT), the jet's manufacturer, reported a 9% increase in net sales to $17.2 billion in Q1 2024 according to its official earnings release. In comparison to peers, LMT remains in a dominant position relative to Northrop Grumman, which reported sales of $10.1 billion in the same period, reinforcing expectations that restoring Turkey's access will significantly support the global F-35 supply chain per market data.

Regarding market performance, LMT shares stood at $538 (close July 6, 2026), after reaching a day high of $545.91. Investors are now monitoring political reactions within Washington alongside upcoming economic data from Turkey, where recent economic calendar figures showed the Turkish unemployment rate holding steady at 8.2% in June 2026, a factor that may influence Ankara's future defense spending capacity.