Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed optimism about Türkiye’s potential reentry into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program, following what he described as a positive stance from U.S. President Donald Trump. Erdoğan’s comments came after the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he indicated that Ankara is anticipating Washington’s verbal commitments to be followed by tangible actions.
The discussions between Türkiye and the United States continue as Ankara seeks to resolve the ongoing dispute related to the F-35 program. Türkiye was excluded from the program in 2019 after its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system, which raised concerns in Washington about the potential compromise of F-35 technology and its compatibility with NATO systems. This led to the United States imposing sanctions on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The removal from the F-35 program has been a significant point of contention in Türkiye-U.S. defense relations. Despite the setbacks, Ankara remains committed to finding a solution and rejoining the F-35 program, as evidenced by Erdoğan’s recent statements.
Erdoğan’s remarks indicate that Türkiye is looking for a constructive path forward with the United States, emphasizing the need for concrete steps to be taken to move beyond the current impasse. This development marks a critical juncture in the ongoing diplomatic and defense negotiations between the two nations.