politics
Turkey Still Refuses to Remove Russian S-400 as U.S. Considers Possible F-35 Reintegration
President Erdogan said Turkey expects the F-35 deal with the U.S. to be reinstated. U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack described the talks as the most productive in nearly a decade and expects a breakthrough in coming months. Turkey was removed from the program after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system.
MA
news.google.comAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
U.S. to be reinstated, seven years after Ankara was kicked out of the program for buying Russia's S-400. Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program 7 years before 2026-05-16.
The removal created supply chain disruption and diplomatic friction for a platform that had counted Turkey as one of its original manufacturing partners. U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack said the talks are the most productive in nearly a decade.
Barrack expects a breakthrough in the F-35 talks in coming months. U.S. requires Turkey to ditch the S-400 as a condition for F-35 reinstatement. Turkey has not agreed to remove the S-400.
Its departure from the program created both supply chain disruption and diplomatic friction. @MarioNawfal reported that reinstatement would strengthen the program while serving as a status signal for Erdogan of fuller NATO alignment. The S-400 disposal remains the central test of any deal.
