Following discussions at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed optimism about Türkiye’s potential reintegration into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. Erdoğan cited what he perceived as a positive stance from U.S. President Donald Trump and emphasized that Türkiye anticipates Washington will take definitive actions to facilitate this process.
Türkiye was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after acquiring Russia’s S-400 air defense system, a move that sparked concerns in the U.S. about the potential risks to F-35 technology security and its compatibility with NATO systems. This decision led to the imposition of sanctions on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The exclusion from the F-35 program has been a significant point of contention in Türkiye-U.S. defense relations. Despite these challenges, Erdoğan remains hopeful, indicating that negotiations between Ankara and Washington are continuing in an effort to resolve the dispute.
The Turkish government is keen on reestablishing its position within the F-35 program, which is seen as crucial to the country’s defense capabilities. As discussions progress, the outcome will likely have significant implications for both nations’ strategic and defense interests.