Turkey in talks to rejoin US F-35 fighter jet programme,

10/12/2025 17:05

The U.S. is in discussions with Turkey regarding Ankara's rejoining the F-35 fighter jet programme and Washington hopes that talks will yield a breakthrough in the coming months, this according to U.S. ambassador to Turkey.



Washington removed Ankara from Lockheed Martin's advanced F-35 programme and imposed the sanctions in 2020 over its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defence systems.



Turkey has said the move was unjust and voiced hope that the sides could overcome the issue during U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.



U.S. law will not permit Turkey to operate or possess the S-400 system if it wants to return to the F-35 programme.



The relationship between Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has created a new atmosphere of cooperation, which has led to "the most fruitful conversations on the topic in nearly a decade."