US State Department Confirms Turkey Fails Conditions to Rejoin F-35 Program

The US State Department officially informed Congress on July 22 that Turkey does not meet the legal requirements to return to the F-35 fighter jet program. The letter, sent in response to Congressman Wesley Bell's inquiry and at the White House's request under President Donald Trump, reiterated that US policy remains aligned with the CAATSA sanctions law and the 2020 Defense Authorization Act. Turkey must fully resolve the issue of its Russian S-400 air defense system by completely divesting from it, committing not to repurchase it, and fulfilling all certification requirements before any F-35 transfers can resume. "Turkey has not yet met these conditions," the letter stated.

The State Department emphasized that any resolution regarding the S-400 must be transparent, lawful, and consistent with US national security interests. Following the recent meeting between Presidents Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Washington will continue dialogue with Ankara to resolve the matter while strengthening NATO cooperation. The letter also highlighted the US-Turkey relationship as based on shared security interests and balanced trade, noting that the US will hold Turkey accountable when its actions harm American interests.

Regarding Gaza, the letter acknowledged Turkey's longstanding ties with Hamas but recognized Ankara's "central role" in advancing President Trump's peace plan for Gaza. Turkey leveraged its connections with Hamas leadership to facilitate acceptance of the plan and progress toward a ceasefire, later becoming a founding member of the "Peace Council." Turkey also continues contributing to regional stability, including in Syria. However, the US maintains sanctions on Hamas-linked entities, including charities used to funnel funds to Hamas's military wing. The letter expressed concern over Hamas's use of informal financial networks and unlicensed money exchanges in Turkey to access funds and affirmed Washington's commitment to disrupting these illicit channels.