US President Donald Trump has praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "a friend" and signalled potential progress on Turkey's long-running bid to acquire F-35 fighter aircraft, while Vice President J.D. Vance said the administration was reviewing whether Ankara had met all legal requirements.

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday (local time), Trump repeatedly commended Erdogan's role during the recent conflict with Iran and confirmed he would attend next month's NATO summit in Ankara largely out of respect for the Turkish leader.