Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed confidence in Türkiye’s potential to re-enter the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program, indicating a positive outlook following discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump. Erdoğan’s remarks came after attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he emphasized that Ankara anticipates Washington’s willingness to be followed by concrete actions.
The backdrop to this development is Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program in 2019. This exclusion occurred after Türkiye’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which had raised U.S. concerns about potential threats to the security of F-35 technology and compatibility with NATO systems. Consequently, the United States imposed sanctions on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
This ongoing dispute has been a significant issue in Türkiye-U.S. defense relations. Despite the setbacks, Ankara is actively seeking a resolution that would allow it to rejoin the F-35 program. Erdoğan’s recent statements suggest that dialogue between the two nations continues, with Türkiye looking for substantive progress based on the U.S.’s expressed willingness.
The situation highlights the complex nature of international defense alliances and the intricate balancing act countries must perform when engaging with differing global powers. As Türkiye navigates its defense strategy, re-entry into the F-35 program remains a priority, contingent on resolving the concerns that initially led to its exclusion.