Washington, United States – The United States has confirmed that Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 fighter program remains in effect, emphasizing that no deliveries of the strategic aircraft to Ankara will occur until the issue of the Russian S-400 air defense system is fully resolved in compliance with U.S. legislation.
This confirmation reflects the ongoing divergence between the two NATO allies regarding strategic armament acquisitions.
Strict Legal Conditions and the S-400 Crisis
In an official letter to Congress, the U.S. State Department clarified that Turkey has not yet met the necessary legal conditions to return to the stealth fighter program. It affirmed that the U.S. stance is strictly based on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
These legislations directly tie Ankara’s reintegration into the program to its physical abandonment of the S-400 system and related equipment, along with binding commitments not to purchase the system in the future and the completion of all required legal procedures—requirements that remain unfulfilled to date.
Ongoing Dialogue and Security Coordination Within NATO
Despite the imposed restrictions, the U.S. State Department affirmed that the administration will continue its open dialogue with Ankara to address the Russian defense system file, in parallel with efforts to bolster mutual cooperation within NATO.
Washington stressed that any future settlement must prioritize U.S. national security considerations. It also highlighted continuous close coordination between the administration and Congress regarding the trajectory of bilateral relations with Turkey, the F-35 file, and broader regional security issues.
