The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is prepared to reconsider one of the most contentious issues in U.S.-Turkiye relations — the sanctions imposed on Ankara over its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, as well as the possibility of bringing Turkiye back into the F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet program. The statements were made on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara following talks between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Trump, Washington intends to review the sanctions imposed under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and make a decision regarding the sale of F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkiye. The U.S. president stressed that Turkiye remains an important NATO ally and emphasized that his administration is considering restoring defense cooperation with Ankara. President Erdogan, for his part, expressed hope for a positive outcome, recalling that the United States had previously committed to delivering five F-35 aircraft before Turkiye's participation in the program was suspended following the imposition of sanctions.

The primary obstacle, however, remains Turkiye's possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. Under current U.S. legislation, Turkiye cannot rejoin the F-35 program while the S-400 systems remain operational. For several years, Washington has argued that the simultaneous deployment of Russian air defense systems and advanced American stealth fighters poses a serious security risk, as it could potentially enable Moscow to obtain sensitive information about the F-35's stealth capabilities and electronic systems.

Sources indicate that the U.S. administration is exploring several options for resolving the S-400 issue. Although no official details have been disclosed, previous media reports have discussed scenarios including decommissioning the systems, placing them in long-term storage without activation, or transferring them to international oversight. Only after resolving the S-400 issue would the administration be able to seek the removal of legal restrictions and restore Turkiye's participation in the F-35 program.

Any effort to return Ankara to the program is expected to face significant resistance in the U.S. Congress. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has already sent a letter to the White House urging the administration not to approve the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkiye, citing both existing legislation and continuing disagreements between Washington and Ankara over regional policy, Turkiye's relations with Iran, and the Turkish government's stance toward Israel. Several Republican senators have also expressed skepticism.

Additional tensions emerged following Israel's reaction. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly canceled a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye was expected to be one of the key topics. Israeli officials fear that providing Ankara with America's most advanced fighter aircraft could alter the regional military balance and negatively affect security in the Middle East.

Turkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after receiving the Russian S-400 systems, and in 2020 the country's Presidency of Defense Industries was sanctioned under the CAATSA legislation. Despite this, Ankara has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to abandon the Russian air defense systems while simultaneously seeking to restore military-technical cooperation with the United States. Trump's latest remarks indicate an attempt to reset bilateral defense relations, but any final decision will depend not only on the White House's position, but also on Turkiye's compliance with U.S. legal requirements and Congress's willingness to approve such a move.

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09.07.2026 12:35