Trump Undecided on Turkey F-35 Sale as Erdoğan Dodges S-400 Query
Trump said he has not decided on restoring Turkey's F-35 access while Erdoğan refused to clarify plans for Russian S-400 missiles blocking any sale resumption.
The exchange occurred during a NATO summit press conference in Ankara, according to Turkish Minute, where Erdoğan was asked directly what commitments Turkey would make regarding the S-400 batteries currently deployed on Turkish soil. His response to Reuters correspondent Hümeyra Pamuk was terse and evasive: Stay tuned.
Trump’s remarks followed his announcement one day earlier that his administration would move to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey over its acquisition of the Russian air defense system. When pressed on whether he had committed to readmitting Turkey to the Joint Strike Fighter program, Trump said he had not yet made up his mind, though he praised Erdoğan for having assisted the United States in various unspecified matters.
Turkey Presses for Full Reinstatement
Turkey’s Defense Ministry issued a statement Thursday welcoming Trump’s pledge to remove sanctions, while demanding the elimination of all Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) measures and what it described as indirect restrictions on the Turkish defense industry. Ankara characterized these limitations as inconsistent with alliance solidarity.
Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 after accepting delivery of the S-400 system despite repeated warnings from Washington that the Russian technology posed a risk of exposing classified stealth aircraft data to Moscow. The United States imposed sanctions under CAATSA in 2020, targeting Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industry.
Congressional Roadblock Remains
Sanctions relief alone will not restore Turkey’s program access. A provision in the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act explicitly bars the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey unless the administration certifies to Congress that Ankara no longer possesses the S-400 system, associated equipment, or personnel, and has pledged not to acquire any comparable platform that could compromise the stealth fighter.
That statutory requirement means Trump cannot unilaterally reverse Turkey’s exclusion. Bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill remains strong, with lawmakers from both parties signaling they will resist any F-35 sale as long as the S-400 issue is unresolved.
Israel and Greece Object
The potential sale has also drawn sharp criticism from regional allies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a CNN interview that arming the Erdoğan government with advanced fifth-generation fighters would encourage aggression. Greek officials have similarly pointed to both the unresolved legal constraints and the implications for the military balance in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey now finds itself with a diplomatic opening but no viable path forward. Trump has indicated willingness to ease sanctions and explore a sale, but Erdoğan’s non-answer on the fate of the S-400 highlights the central obstacle that continues to prevent Turkey’s return to the F-35 consortium.
With information from Turkish Minute
