U.S. Ambassador Barrack Signals Possible Breakthrough on F-35 Dispute With Türkiye

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack has said that long-standing disputes between Washington and Ankara over Türkiye’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program could be resolved within the next four to six months, signaling renewed momentum in bilateral defense talks.

Barrack said key obstacles related to Türkiye’s removal from the program are now being actively addressed. He indicated that the operational concerns linked to Türkiye’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system are no longer viewed as the primary issue, as the systems are not operational. He added that discussions are now focused on the legal and political implications of continued possession.

Barrack noted that four F-35 aircraft originally produced for Türkiye remain in the United States and have not been delivered. He warned that prolonged delays risk diminishing the relevance of advanced platforms as technology evolves, underscoring the need for timely resolution.

The ambassador also pointed to a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing it as constructive and instrumental in narrowing differences on defense and sanctions-related issues. He suggested that the current diplomatic climate has created space for progress that had previously been blocked.

In a separate set of remarks, Barrack sharply criticized what he described as a contradiction in the approach of NATO and some European partners toward Türkiye. While Ankara is frequently described as indispensable to alliance security, he said, it continues to face resistance when seeking access to the most advanced Western defense systems. Barrack characterized this imbalance as strategically unsustainable, particularly given Türkiye’s growing defense-industrial capabilities and operational contributions.

Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 following its purchase of the S-400 system, a move that also triggered U.S. sanctions. Any formal return to the program would require not only executive-level agreement but also engagement with the U.S. Congress under existing sanctions legislation.

Barrack’s comments mark one of the clearest signals in recent years that Washington and Ankara may be approaching a negotiated framework to address one of their most contentious defense disputes.