Former Vice President Oktay Presses Congress on Sanctions and Defense Cooperation During Washington Visit
By Bosphorus News Staff
Türkiye’s parliamentary delegation in Washington placed sanctions relief and defense cooperation at the center of its meetings with U.S. lawmakers, as Ankara seeks to convert improved executive-level dialogue into legislative progress.
TBMM Foreign Affairs Committee Chair and former Vice President Fuat Oktay told Turkish journalists in Washington that discussions at the U.S. Congress were constructive and focused on removing structural obstacles in bilateral defense ties. He described the atmosphere as positive, while noting that congressional procedures follow their own pace.
Sanctions at the Core
Central to the talks was the legacy of U.S. sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act in 2020 after Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system. The measures targeted the Presidency of Defense Industries and reshaped the legal environment governing certain defense procurement and export approvals.
Oktay indicated that conversations in both chambers addressed ways to ease sanctions-related constraints, suggesting there is now greater openness in Congress to revisit aspects of the framework.
The issue extends beyond symbolism. Sanctions influence licensing procedures, industrial cooperation pathways, and the long-term predictability of defense collaboration.
KAAN and Engine Continuity
The KAAN fifth-generation fighter program forms part of this broader strategic landscape.
Although KAAN is domestically led, propulsion and certain subsystems remain linked to international supply chains and export control regimes. As Bosphorus News reported on December 27, 2025, Türkiye confirmed delivery of 10 F110 turbofan engines to support early prototype testing, while work continues on a domestically developed engine intended for later production blocks.
The current arrangement reflects a phased structure: foreign-supplied engines ensure continuity in testing, while Ankara advances a long-term propulsion solution aimed at strategic autonomy.
In Washington, the delegation’s engagement suggests that engine continuity and legislative constraints are part of the same policy conversation.
F-35 Signals
The visit also coincides with renewed diplomatic signaling on the F-35 dispute.
On February 3, 2026, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said that long-standing disagreements over Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program could be resolved within four to six months.
Barrack stated that operational concerns related to the S-400 system are no longer viewed as the primary issue, with discussions now focused on legal and political dimensions. He also criticized what he described as a contradiction in NATO’s approach toward Türkiye, noting that the alliance relies on Ankara for security while limiting its access to advanced Western systems.
Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 following its S-400 purchase, a move that preceded the CAATSA sanctions.
Legislative Diplomacy in a Sanctions Era
Oktay framed the Washington meetings as an attempt to reinforce executive-level engagement through parliamentary channels. While leader-level dialogue has improved, congressional approval remains decisive in matters involving sanctions and defense exports.
No formal changes were announced during the visit. However, the convergence of engine deliveries for KAAN, domestic propulsion development, and diplomatic signaling on the F-35 file suggests that defense cooperation has re-entered an active negotiation phase.
Similarly No immediate policy shift emerged from the Washington meetings. But the convergence of congressional outreach, ongoing KAAN engine deliveries, and renewed signals on the F-35 file suggests that sanctions and defense cooperation are no longer being managed in isolation. They are now part of the same legislative and strategic negotiation track.