US Says Turkey Still Fails to Meet Conditions for F-35 Sale

Key Facts

Published: July 25, 2026 Location: Washington D.C. Source: Times of Israel

• Turkey has not surrendered its Russian S-400 air defense system.
• U.S. sanctions continue to block Ankara from purchasing F-35 fighter jets.
• Israel warns that an F-35 sale to Turkey could undermine its military advantage.

Russian S-400 system remains the central obstacle despite Trump signaling support for a renewed agreement

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Turkey has not met the conditions required to purchase American F-35 fighter jets, the U.S. State Department said, despite President Donald Trump recently signaling that he would support reviving the long-stalled sale.

In a letter to Rep. Wesley Bell, the State Department said Ankara must resolve concerns surrounding its possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system before sanctions can be lifted or an F-35 agreement approved.

Turkey was removed from the multinational F-35 program in 2020 after purchasing the S-400 system from Moscow. The acquisition triggered U.S. sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

The department said Turkey would have to relinquish the S-400 system and related equipment, guarantee that it will not purchase the system again, and satisfy additional requirements established by Congress.

“Turkey has not yet met these conditions,” the State Department said, while leaving open the possibility of a future agreement.

Trump said during a July 7 meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he intended to lift sanctions and appeared receptive to approving the aircraft sale. However, the State Department’s letter indicated that the administration’s official policy has not yet changed.

Israel strongly opposes selling the advanced stealth fighters to Turkey, warning that the move could threaten its legally protected qualitative military edge in the Middle East. Israel remains the only country in the region currently operating the F-35.

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