US Reaffirms Opposition to Turkey’s Return to F-35 Program

The US State Department has once again ruled out Turkey’s reintegration into the F-35 fighter jet program, underscoring Washington’s continued opposition following Ankara’s purchase of Russian-made S-400 missile systems in 2017.

In a letter released Wednesday, the department responded to a bipartisan push by 40 lawmakers—led by Democrat Chris Pappas—urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Turkey remains excluded from the program. The lawmakers accused Ankara of “continuing to violate US laws and policies related to US national security.”

The letter reiterated Washington’s position:

“We have expressed our displeasure with Ankara’s acquisition of the S-400 system and have made clear the steps that should be taken as part of our ongoing assessment of the implementation of CAATSA sanctions.”

Despite the disagreement, the State Department also highlighted Turkey’s strategic importance within NATO:

“Turkey is a long-time NATO ally with a history of significant contributions to the alliance’s missions. The United States’ defense relationship with Turkey remains vital to the security interests of both the United States and NATO.”

Why Turkey was Removed

Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program and its Defence Industry Agency sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) after purchasing the S-400s, which the US argued were incompatible with NATO defense systems and posed intelligence risks to the stealth fighter jets.

Ankara countered by claiming that it turned to Russia only after Washington refused to sell Patriot missile systems with a technology transfer clause—something Turkey viewed as critical to its long-term defense autonomy.

However, the decision sparked deep unease within NATO, with allies warning that the Russian system could undermine alliance security.