US Sets Conditions for F-35 Delivery to Turkey Amid S-400 Concerns
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Washington stipulates that Turkey must neither possess nor utilize the S-400 system to rejoin the F-35 program, as stated by US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barack, in a message on platform ‘X’.
The ambassador noted that a positive relationship between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has fostered a new era of collaboration, leading to the most productive dialogues in nearly a decade.
These discussions, he added, hold promise for meeting the security needs of both nations.
Washington and Ankara are engaged in “fruitful” talks regarding the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, deliveries of which have been stalled due to Ankara’s acquisition of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia.
During Trump’s initial presidential term, the US barred Turkey from receiving F-35s following its purchase of the S-400 system from Russia. US officials expressed concerns that Turkey’s operation of the system could expose sensitive F-35 data to Russia.
Israel, the sole operator of F-35s in the Middle East, has voiced apprehension over the potential sale of these aircraft to Turkey and neighboring countries, seeking to maintain its “military edge” in the region. However, President Trump’s recent decision to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia has stirred concerns in Tel Aviv.
Ankara aims to bolster its air superiority through the acquisition of Eurofighter Typhoon jets and ongoing dialogue with the US regarding the F-35s. Turkey is in the final stages of a Typhoon acquisition agreement with the UK and select European nations, but remains excluded from obtaining F-35s.
