State Department: US-Türkiye F-35 talks continue despite S-400 dispute

The United States and Türkiye are continuing discussions on Ankara’s possible return to the F-35 fighter jet programme, although Washington says the country has yet to meet the legal requirements necessary for the resumption of deliveries.

According to an official US State Department letter sent to Congress on July 22 and reviewed by Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Türkiye remains impossible under current conditions.

The document identifies Türkiye’s possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system as the main obstacle preventing Ankara’s return to the programme. To return to the F-35 programme, Türkiye must completely remove the S-400 system and related equipment, and provide guarantees that it will not acquire similar systems in the future.

The State Department stressed that any settlement of the issue must be “transparent, lawful, and consistent with the US national security interests.”

At the same time, Washington confirmed that diplomatic contacts with Ankara over the matter are ongoing. The department pointed to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara in early July, after which both sides expressed their intention to continue negotiations.

Türkiye was removed from the F-35 programme after it purchased the Russian S-400 missile system in 2019. The United States argued that the Russian-made system could compromise the security of the advanced fighter jet programme and urged Ankara to switch to American Patriot air defence systems.

Following the S-400 purchase, Washington excluded Türkiye from the F-35 project and imposed sanctions on officials linked to the country’s defence industry.

By Vugar Khalilov