Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently made it clear that his country has not given up on acquiring the American F-35 fighter jets. Speaking after a NATO summit in The Hague and a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Erdoğan expressed his desire to rejoin the F-35 program — a bold statement given the tensions surrounding the issue.
Erdoğan’s Message: “We Haven’t Let Go of the F-35”
On his flight back from the NATO meeting, Erdoğan told reporters, “We have not given up on the F-35. We are discussing with our counterparts about rejoining the program.” He added that technical talks had already started and expressed hope for progress, saying, “God willing, we will move forward.”
According to Reuters, This showed Turkey’s intent to repair relations with the US and regain access to the advanced stealth jets, despite the setbacks it faced.
Why Was Turkey Removed from the F-35 Program?
The core issue is Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which the US viewed as incompatible with NATO security. Because of this, the US removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 and imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defense industries under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
At the time, Turkey was a key partner in the F-35 project, manufacturing over 900 parts and planning to buy 100 of these jets, even paying an advance of $1.4 billion.
Signs of Thawing Relations?
Following Erdoğan’s recent talks with Trump, US Ambassador Tom Barrett suggested that sanctions on Turkey’s defense sector might be lifted by the end of the year. Barrett said top diplomats were “working on a way forward” and seemed hopeful for a resolution.
This has sparked speculation that the US may reconsider Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program if certain conditions are met.
The Complicated Web: India, Turkey, and the F-35
An interesting twist is India’s position. Despite also operating the Russian S-400 system, India was informally offered the F-35 by the US earlier this year. This suggests Washington may be softening its stance on the joint presence of S-400s and F-35s.
According to The Diplomat, If Turkey regains access to the F-35, it could create strategic unease among India’s close allies in the region, namely Israel, Greece, Armenia, and Cyprus.
| Country | Relationship with Turkey | Relationship with India |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | Strained, wary of Turkey’s Middle East ambitions | Strong defense partnership |
| Greece | Long-standing maritime disputes with Turkey | Friendly, diplomatic ties |
| Armenia | Conflicted over Azerbaijan (Turkey’s ally) | Friendly, diplomatic ties |
| Cyprus | Partially occupied by Turkey | Friendly, diplomatic ties |
These countries have deep defense and diplomatic ties with India but tense or hostile relations with Turkey, making the situation delicate.
Can Turkey and the US Find Middle Ground?
Reports indicate that the US might demand Turkey either isolate the S-400 system or relocate it to a US-controlled base to address security concerns. There’s also talk of completing F-16 fighter sales to Turkey as part of a possible package deal.
If Turkey agrees to these conditions, it could pave the way for its return to the F-35 program, marking a major shift in NATO and regional dynamics.
Read More: Top 10 Fighter Jets in the World Ranked by Power and Technology
Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on The Ink Post. Get Latest Updates, Latest News on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Explainers.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn and Twitter to Stay updated!
