Following the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed optimism about Türkiye’s potential reinstatement into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. He attributed this confidence to what he perceived as a positive stance from U.S. President Donald Trump. Erdoğan emphasized that Ankara is looking for Washington to follow up on its expressed willingness with concrete 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, which raised security concerns in the United States. Washington argued that the Russian system could compromise the security and compatibility of the F-35 technology with NATO defenses. As a result, sanctions were imposed on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
This issue has been a significant point of contention in defense relations between Türkiye and the United States. Ankara has consistently pursued a resolution that would allow it to rejoin the F-35 program, highlighting the ongoing strategic importance of the partnership between the two NATO allies.
Erdoğan’s remarks underline Türkiye’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute, hoping to restore its participation in the advanced fighter jet program, which it views as crucial for its national defense strategy.