Turkey cannot receive F-35 fighter jets unless it gives up its Russian-made S-400 air defense system and meets other legal requirements, the US State Department told Congress in a letter dated Wednesday.
US law still blocks a sale despite President Donald Trump’s pledge to lift sanctions and his statement that Washington would consider letting Ankara buy the aircraft.
The July 22 letter, obtained by Kathimerini, was prepared by the State Department on behalf of the White House in response to an inquiry from Democratic Congressman Wesley Bell about Turkey’s possible return to the program.
The department said US law bars the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey until it meets the requirements of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and other legal provisions.
Those conditions include removing the Russian-made S-400 air defense system and related equipment from its possession, pledging not to acquire similar systems in the future and fulfilling the remaining certification requirements.
“Turkey has not yet met these conditions,” the letter said. The letter added that discussions between Washington and Ankara on resolving the S-400 dispute are continuing and said any agreement must be “transparent, lawful, and consistent with US national security interests.”
The statement contrasts with comments made by President Trump after meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month, when Trump said Turkey would receive F-35 fighter jets.
The State Department also described Turkey as an important NATO ally and said the United States would continue working with Ankara on areas of shared interest while holding it accountable when its actions conflict with US interests.
Beyond the F-35 issue, the letter reviewed broader US-Turkey relations, saying Turkey has supported US diplomatic efforts involving Russia and Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia and Gaza, as well as regional counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
It also said Turkey had used its contacts with Hamas’ political leadership to help secure the group’s acceptance of the US-backed Gaza peace plan and the first phase of a ceasefire. At the same time the department said it remained concerned about Hamas-linked financial networks operating from Turkish territory and would continue targeting individuals and organizations accused of financing the group.
The dispute over the S-400 system has prevented Turkey from rejoining the multinational F-35 program since 2019. Washington removed Turkey from the project after it purchased the Russian-made missile defense system, arguing that operating the S-400 alongside the F-35 could expose sensitive information about the aircraft to Russia. The United States also imposed sanctions on Turkey under CAATSA over the purchase.