Turkey’s stalled access to F-35 stealth fighter jets could be resolved within the next four to six months, according to the US ambassador in Ankara, Tom Barrack.
Speaking at a Middle East policy conference, he said long-running disagreements between Washington and Ankara appear to be moving toward a settlement after years of deadlock.
S-400 System at the Center of the Dispute
The central obstacle has been Turkey’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. That acquisition triggered US sanctions under CAATSA legislation, which limits defense cooperation with countries that procure certain Russian military technologies. As a result, Turkey was removed from the F-35 program despite its earlier role as a manufacturing partner and contributor of key airframe components.
Barrack said one of the two core compliance conditions, operational use of the S-400, is no longer considered a blocking factor because the system is inactive. The more complex issue, he noted, involves continued possession and legal status, which remains under negotiation.
Washington Signals Frustration Over the Stalemate
During the panel discussion, Barrack said President Donald Trump has described the situation as unreasonable, arguing that refusing to sell advanced fighter aircraft to Turkey has created counterproductive outcomes. With F-35 transfers blocked, Ankara has instead moved to pursue Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
He also pointed to the scale of Turkey’s domestic defense sector, noting that Turkish drone producers have become major suppliers to Ukraine and that the country is developing its own combat aircraft alongside foreign purchases.
Turkish F-35 Jets Remain Stored in the US
Barrack confirmed that four F-35 aircraft originally built for Turkey remain stored in California and have not been delivered.
Although Ankara has no access to them, he warned that extended delays in program decisions can erode the long-term technological advantage of advanced platforms if similar capabilities are eventually replicated elsewhere.
High-Level Turkey Talks Between Trump and Erdogan on the F-35 Program
Barrack also referred to a recent White House meeting between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing the talks as highly productive.
He said several bilateral defense issues that had remained unresolved for nearly a decade were significantly narrowed or addressed, including key elements of the S-400 and sanctions framework.
According to Barrack, both leaders showed readiness to meet their commitments and advance negotiations, reinforcing expectations that outstanding decisions could be reached in the coming months.
