Donald Trump expected to tell Turkey he is ready to restore access to F-35 jets, NYT reports

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to tell Turkish ​President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ​that he is prepared to allow the country ​to rejoin the F-35 stealth fighter program, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing four senior administration officials.

The report comes as Trump heads ‌to Ankara ⁠for a ⁠NATO summit, where he is expected to meet Erdogan. The summit is ​set to begin on Tuesday evening.

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According to the New York Times report, ​the officials differed on the details of how Trump would seek to work around congressional and legal restrictions, but suggested there ​could be an exchange of letters ⁠on the ‌subject between the two leaders.

The White House did ​not immediately ​respond to Reuters' request for comment on the ⁠report.

Turkey's 2019 acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system has soured ties with the United States and hampered congressional support for Ankara. In response, Washington imposed sanctions and removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program.

Congress also passed a law prohibiting any sales of F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara remained in possession of ‌the S-400s, saying the Russian system poses a security risk to U.S.-made combat aircraft.

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The issue has remained ​a major ​point of contention ⁠between the two countries even though Turkey enjoys warmer ties with Washington under Trump.

The reported development is a sign of improving ties ​between the two countries, especially after Trump's administration formally notified Congress of its intention to sell dozens of jet engines worth more than $700 million to Turkey last month, according to a copy of the formal notification seen by Reuters.