Washington DC - President Donald Trump said his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be "very happy" when asked Wednesday about giving Turkey access to F-35 fighter jets.

"I'm going to probably do something that's going to make him very happy," Trump said when a reporter inquired about Erdogan wanting the jets and whether he would be bringing a "big gift bag" with him to Ankara, Turkey, during the NATO summit there next month.

The F-35 fighter jet, a top-of-the-line stealth plane, was originally developed by the US in partnership with other NATO countries – of which Turkey is a member – under a program called the Joint Strike Fighter.

However, the US booted Turkey from development of the F-35 in 2019 after the NATO ally went ahead with purchases of missile defense from Russia.

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But Trump has since warmed relations with Erdogan, though he did not say his attendance at the military alliance summit would include a formal visit to Turkey.

Despite Trump's inclination, Vice President JD Vance clarified the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets to Turkey would require approval from Congress.

"This is really a congressional thing, and ensuring that Turkey has complied with American law, so they can get the F-35," Vance said.