Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed confidence in Türkiye’s potential to rejoin the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program following positive signals from U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking after the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Erdoğan emphasized that Ankara expects this favorable stance to translate into tangible actions, indicating that discussions between the two nations are ongoing.
Türkiye’s involvement in the F-35 program was halted in 2019 after it acquired Russia’s S-400 air defense system. The United States raised concerns that the Russian system could compromise the security of F-35 technology and its integration with NATO systems, leading to Türkiye’s removal from the program. In response to this acquisition, Washington also imposed sanctions on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
This disagreement has continued to be a significant issue in Türkiye-U.S. defense relations. Ankara remains determined to resolve the dispute and is actively pursuing a pathway back into the F-35 program. Erdoğan’s recent comments underscore Türkiye’s expectations for concrete steps from the United States to address and move past the current impasse.
The ongoing discussions and potential for Türkiye to return to the F-35 program reflect broader diplomatic and security considerations between the two NATO allies. As both countries navigate this complex defense relationship, the outcome could have substantial implications for the future of their military cooperation and strategic alignment within the alliance.