Erdogan Seeks Solution to Remove S-400 Obstacle for Turkey's Return to F-35 Program

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is actively working to resolve the key legal and security issue preventing Turkey's return to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program: its possession of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Turkey is reportedly considering either transferring the S-400 batteries to a third party or completely deactivating them to lift American sanctions. This move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement on July 7, 2026, during the NATO summit in Ankara, that he intends to lift sanctions on Turkey and reconsider selling F-35 jets to Ankara after a personal meeting with Erdogan.

Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program in 2019 due to concerns that the S-400 system could compromise the stealth capabilities of the jets by allowing Russia to gather intelligence. Turkey had planned to purchase 100 F-35s and was a key supplier of over 900 components for the program. The main hurdle now is the 2017 U.S. CAATSA law, which penalizes countries engaging in defense deals with Russia. Senator Marco Rubio recently reaffirmed the U.S. administration's commitment to this law, posing a legal challenge for Erdogan.

Erdogan is leveraging his direct ties with Trump to accelerate the process, despite strong opposition from Israel, which fears a shift in the regional military balance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a CNN interview that the deal would alter the Middle East's power dynamics. Relations between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since October 7, with verbal attacks from Erdogan and a freeze in trade. Greece is also closely monitoring the situation, concerned about strategic balance in the Aegean Sea.

The Trump administration's approach prioritizes personal relationships and loyalty over institutional processes. Discussions between U.S. officials and Turkey include potential multi-billion-dollar investments in defense procurement, aiming for Turkey to allocate 5% of its GDP to defense by 2035. The remaining challenge is navigating congressional legal obstacles and ensuring the U.S. does not appear to overlook Turkey's Russian deal for temporary diplomatic gains. Success depends on Turkey's ability to implement the S-400 arrangement and provide security assurances to ease allied concerns in the region.