Trump proposes an agreement to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 program

U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a possible route for Turkey to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, provided that Ankara makes its Russian-supplied S-400 air defense system non-operational, as reported by Fox News.

During a recent phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump showed interest in completing the $23 billion deal for 40 F-16s and modernization kits for 79 existing Turkish aircraft. He also indicated a willingness to discuss Turkey’s long-desired return to the F-35 program, which would reverse the decision made by Washington in 2019 to expel Turkey from the fifth-generation jet partnership.

Sources informed Fox News that one potential solution could involve dismantling the S-400 system or relocating it to a U.S.-controlled facility in Turkey to prevent it from gathering intelligence on NATO assets like the F-35.

The S-400 situation has been a persistent barrier to U.S.-Turkey defense collaboration. In 2019, the White House stated, “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform,” highlighting the “detrimental impacts” on NATO security.

While Congress has already approved the F-16 sale, negotiations between Turkey’s defense ministry and Lockheed Martin remain unresolved. Trump’s advisors have reportedly sought legal and technical advice on how to move forward without breaching the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which currently prohibits arms sales to nations operating Russian defense systems.

According to the Turkish government’s summary of the recent call, Erdogan emphasized to Trump the need to lift CAATSA sanctions, finalize the F-16 procurement, and secure Turkey’s re-entry into the F-35 program. The U.S. has not released an official summary of the discussion.

Fox News has reported that Trump is open to the possibility of hosting Erdogan in the United States soon to facilitate ongoing discussions. These renewed talks arise as Turkey evaluates a separate proposal from the United Kingdom regarding Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which could heighten competition in the fighter jet procurement sector.

The potential resumption of F-35 sales to Turkey is likely to be controversial. Israel and Greece—both U.S. allies in the region—have expressed concerns regarding Turkey’s defense strategy, pointing to Ankara’s support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as its recent diplomatic rift with Israel stemming from the Gaza conflict.

As negotiations progress, Trump’s willingness to consider new terms indicates a potential shift in U.S.-Turkey defense relations, contingent upon Turkey’s readiness to alter its stance on the S-400.