Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he is confident that Turkey will return to the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program, claiming that U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a positive stance toward Ankara’s participation.
Speaking to reporters on his return from New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly, Erdoğan said Turkey was now awaiting concrete steps from Washington to revive cooperation on the advanced fighter aircraft.
“President Trump expressed a positive willingness regarding Turkey’s return to the F-35 program,” Erdoğan said, according to Turkish media.
The Turkish president added that Ankara expected the United States to take the necessary steps to enable the resumption of cooperation.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air-defense system. Washington argued that the Russian system was incompatible with Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program because of concerns over the security of the aircraft and sensitive NATO technology.
The F-35 dispute has remained a significant issue in U.S.-Turkish defense relations, alongside Ankara’s efforts to modernize its air force and strengthen its advanced fighter capabilities.
Erdoğan’s latest comments came after his meeting with Trump in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. According to the Turkish side, the two presidents discussed bilateral relations, defense cooperation and regional security.
Any return to the F-35 program would require concrete decisions by the United States and resolution of the issues surrounding Turkey’s S-400 system.
