Ankara Assured F-35 Impasse Will Be Resolved After High-Level Washington Talks

Ankara has expressed absolute certainty that the protracted dispute with Washington over the F-35 fighter jet program will be resolved, pointing to structural leverage and a constructive shift in bilateral negotiations.

Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish Parliament's National Defense Committee, stated that the impasse, triggered by the procurement of Russian S-400 air defense systems, is nearing a diplomatic conclusion.

"It will be solved. We have no doubt," Akar said during a legislative visit to Washington, emphasizing that the technical justification for the suspension will soon be neutralized.

Path to Resolution

The diplomatic push follows a series of high-level meetings between a Turkish delegation and senior U.S. lawmakers, including the leaders of the House Armed Services, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs committees.

The talks focused heavily on security cooperation, NATO deterrence, and regional developments across Ukraine, Iran, and the Caucasus.

Turkish officials underscored that their manufacturing history gives them significant leverage in negotiations.

The country previously produced exactly 1,000 components for the advanced fighter aircraft before its participation was frozen by Washington.

According to Ankara, the suspension remains tied exclusively to the acquisition of the Russian S-400 system.

"The justification for suspending the F-35 program was the S-400," Akar noted, adding that "once that is removed, the F-35 will start directly."

Working Group Progress

The optimism is mirrored by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, which reported that the two capitals are closer to resolving the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) restrictions than at any point in the last decade.

A joint political and military working group has been actively reviewing options to satisfy American legal frameworks alongside Turkish economic and security requirements.

Deputy Foreign Minister Levent Gumrukcu stated that resolving the dispute became a top priority following President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Turkish officials noted that the American administration has demonstrated a positive approach toward fulfilling its commitments under a potential agreement.

Ankara has characterized the 2019 acquisition of the Russian hardware as a one-off procurement driven by an immediate gap in its regional air defense coverage after failing to secure alternative systems from Western allies.

The Turkish National Defense Ministry confirmed that multi-dimensional work on the S-400 systems is ongoing, though officials explicitly denied recent reports suggesting the hardware would be transferred to the United Arab Emirates.

Regional Alignments

During the Washington discussions, the Turkish delegation pushed back against external political opposition to the defense deal, specifically criticizing statements originating from Greece and Greek-origin members of Congress.

Ankara maintained that strengthening an allied state's defense capabilities enhances the collective deterrence of the NATO alliance.

The talks also touched upon broader regional stability. Turkish representatives urged their American counterparts to resist external influence regarding defense procurement decisions, noting that regional actions funded by external aid have increasingly undermined collective security objectives.

"Ultimately, the S-400 issue will be resolved one way or another," Akar concluded. Akar also said that the F-35 issue "will be solved. We have no doubt."