The State Department has informed Congress that Turkey does not meet the legal requirements to receive F-35 fighter jets, The Jerusalem Post reported Friday. The letter states that no F-35 aircraft can be transferred until Ankara fully complies with US law.
The State Department has formally notified Congress that Turkey remains ineligible to receive F-35 fighter jets until it fully complies with US law, according to a letter dated July 22 first reported by The Jerusalem Post and covered by The Zioneer on Friday. The letter, which was published in three successive updates by The Zioneer at 15:22 Jerusalem, reiterates that Turkey's continued possession of the Russian S-400 air defense system violates US law and bars the transfer. The notification also expresses concern over Hamas financial networks operating from Turkish territory, while acknowledging Ankara's role in helping secure the Gaza ceasefire.
The Zioneer's thread on the letter began with the initial report at 15:22, followed by updates that highlighted the dual concerns: the S-400 obstacle and the Hamas financing issue. The thread also noted that the State Department recognized Turkey's assistance in the Gaza ceasefire efforts. This is the latest development in a months-long debate over whether the US should sell F-35s to Turkey, a NATO ally that has drawn bipartisan congressional opposition.
As The Zioneer has reported over the past month, the Trump administration had signaled openness to the sale, with Vice President JD Vance stating on June 25 that a legal review was needed. That same day, a former Israeli Air Force official urged the government to block the sale. In the weeks that followed, bipartisan House lawmakers urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to block the deal, citing the S-400 threat to US aircraft. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized the US arms-sale denial as "unjustified," while Israeli analysts warned that Turkey's acquisition of F-35s would endanger Israel's security.
The State Department's letter reaffirms the existing legal barriers, leaving the status of any future sale unchanged. The Trump administration has not withdrawn its interest, and the letter does not address the possibility of a waiver. The debate over Turkey's eligibility continues, with the S-400 and Hamas ties remaining the central sticking points.
4 developments
- DevelopingUS House lawmakers urge Rubio and Hegseth to block F-35 sale to Turkey over S-400 concerns
- StrongCol. (res.) Uzi Dayan: Turkey's F-35 acquisition would be dangerous, but likely blocked
- DevelopingSegal: Turkey has not earned trust — F-35 sale to Erdogan endangers Israel's security
- DevelopingUS Senator Lindsey Graham tells i24NEWS he will oppose F-35 sale to Turkey
Source and signal
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