At the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, two American weapons systems—F-35 stealth fighters and Patriot missile interceptors—emerged as top priorities for alliance members. President Donald Trump indicated he may approve Turkey's purchase of F-35s, reversing the 2019 decision to exclude Turkey from the program. Trump also surprised attendees by telling Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. might grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, stating, "We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots."

This move aims to bolster Ukraine's air and missile defenses amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defense, saying, "Russia is placing its bets on ballistic weapons, and those who want peace must place their bets on protection against ballistic attacks."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed efforts to increase the supply of Patriots, saying, "We are working from every angle" to support Ukraine. Poland has been actively involved, with its defense company WZE selected to manufacture attitude control motors for the Patriot PAC-3 missiles. Additionally, Poland signed an agreement with the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden to establish a service center for PAC-3 missiles, as noted by Poland’s Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.

Turkey's loyalty to NATO was also highlighted during the summit, with remarks noting its significant role within the alliance. These developments underscore NATO's commitment to enhancing collective defense capabilities through key American weapons systems.

Sources