U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said that talks between Ankara and Washington on Türkiye’s re-entry into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme could make tangible progress in the coming months. Barrack emphasised that the new relationship on the Erdoğan–Trump line has created a favourable ground for negotiations.
U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack made striking remarks regarding Türkiye’s re-participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme, which has long been suspended between Ankara and Washington. In an assessment he shared on social media on 9 December, Barrack stated that the talks “could deliver a breakthrough in the coming months”.
Barrack said that the new and “positive” relationship formed between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump has created a new atmosphere of cooperation between the two countries, adding that this has laid the groundwork for productive negotiations on the F-35 issue.
This statement has been interpreted as the first official signal from the U.S. side regarding Türkiye’s possible return to the F-35 programme.
Came onto the Agenda After the Erdoğan–Trump Meeting
Turkish media had reported in September that the F-35 issue would be discussed during the meeting between Erdoğan and Trump at the White House. Shortly after that meeting, in response to a journalist’s question on whether Türkiye’s cancelled F-35 agreement could be revived, Trump had said:
“If I want to, I can do it very easily. We can do it. Well, it depends. [Erdoğan] is going to do some things for us.”
Why Was Türkiye Removed from the Programme?
The previous Trump administration removed Türkiye from the F-35 programme after Ankara purchased the S-400 air defence system from Russia. This decision directly affected the Turkish defence industry, which played a critical role in the F-35 production chain, and also led to an increase in the unit cost of the aircraft.
Following its removal from the programme, the Turkish Air Force reshaped its fighter aircraft planning. In this process:
- The procurement of the Eurofighter Typhoon came onto the agenda,
- Initiatives were launched for the purchase of F-16 Block 70 aircraft,
- The indigenous KAAN National Combat Aircraft project was accelerated.
In addition, Türkiye’s licensed Black Hawk helicopter production programme was also affected by this decision and the CAATSA sanctions imposed thereafter.
The S-400 Condition Will Be Decisive
Ambassador Barrack clearly stated that, under U.S. law, Türkiye must no longer operate the S-400 system or have it in its inventory in order to be able to return to the F-35 programme.
Türkiye took delivery of the S-400 system in 2019 and carried out a test firing a year later. The system is still deployed at Akıncı Air Base near Ankara. However, no clear information has been shared on whether the system is actively being used.
Opposition in the U.S. Congress
A possible agreement is likely to face opposition from some members of the U.S. Congress who take a critical view of Türkiye’s foreign policy record, particularly its relations with Greece and Israel. It is assessed that this could affect the pace and scope of the process.
Financing and Strategic Balance Questions
According to experts, if Türkiye were to return to the F-35, it remains unclear how this would affect the Eurofighter deal, the KAAN project, and whether all three major defence projects could be financed simultaneously under current economic conditions.
Barrack concluded his remarks with the following words:
“We hope that these talks will deliver a breakthrough in the coming months that meets the security requirements of both the United States and Türkiye.”
