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The U.S. State Department reaffirmed that Washington's position on F-35 fighter jet sales to Türkiye has not changed, emphasizing that any aircraft sales must comply with U.S. law, particularly the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The State Department responded to a Sept. 25 letter from 20 members of the U.S. Congress expressing objections and concerns regarding potential sales of F-35 and F-16 fighter aircraft to Türkiye.
"Thank you for your September 25 letter to Secretary Rubio regarding discussions with Türkiye regarding potential U.S. F-16 and F-35 sales," the State Department said in its response.
The Trump Administration stated it is "fully committed to protecting U.S. defense and intelligence interests and complying with U.S. law, including the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act."
The U.S. suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 after objecting to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, claiming the system would endanger the fighter jets and is inoperable with NATO systems. Several Turkish defense entities were sanctioned under CAATSA.
The State Department clarified its stance on Türkiye's possession of Russian air defense systems.
"The U.S. position on Türkiye's acquisition and continued possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system has not changed, and the requirements for Türkiye to acquire U.S. F-35 aircraft are clear and fully consistent with section 1245 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act," the department stated.
The United States has informed the Turkish government of its laws and policies regarding Russian defense equipment acquisition and the implications for F-35 aircraft procurement.
"We have expressed our disapproval of Ankara's acquisition of the S-400 and the legal requirements established by the NDAA and CAATSA," the State Department said.
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Regarding F-16 fighter jet sales, the State Department noted that the sale was formally notified to Congress in January 2024, with the Congressional review period completed that same month.
"Türkiye has the second-largest fleet of F-16s in NATO, after the United States, and plays an important role in NATO's air defense. The F-16 sale will enable Türkiye to maintain this contribution to our collective security," the State Department stated.
The department highlighted Türkiye's NATO contributions, including deploying F-16s to support NATO Air Policing in the Baltics and deploying a Turkish AWACS aircraft to Lithuania under NATO assurance measures following Russia's violation of Lithuanian airspace in September.
The State Department emphasized the strategic importance of bilateral defense cooperation, stating, "The U.S. defense relationship with Türkiye remains vital to the security interests of both the United States and NATO."
"Türkiye remains an important NATO Ally that has contributed significantly," the department added.
The State Department indicated openness to Congressional dialogue on arms transfers, stating, "We respect Congressional oversight of arms transfers and welcome continued dialogue on how to balance NATO readiness with U.S. law and policy constraints."
"In addition, we continue to engage Ankara on resolving the S-400 issue while strengthening areas where our NATO cooperation remains critical," the department concluded.
U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack stated on Dec. 10 that Washington is engaged in "ongoing discussions" with Ankara on its bid to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, expressing hope for a "breakthrough" in the coming months.
In a post on the X platform, Barrack said the talks center on Türkiye's "desire to rejoin the F-35 program and their possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system."
"As laid out in U.S. law, Türkiye must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program," Barrack wrote.
Barrack noted the improved diplomatic atmosphere. "The 'positive relationship' between President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has created 'a new atmosphere of cooperation,' leading to the 'most fruitful conversations we have had on this topic in nearly a decade,'" Barrack stated.
Barrack expressed cautious optimism about the resolution. "Our hope is that these talks will yield a breakthrough in the coming months that meets both the security requirements of the United States and Türkiye," he added.
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