The United States said Saturday evening that Turkey has not yet satisfied the conditions required to receive F-35 stealth fighter jets, following President Trump's earlier indication that he would likely approve the sale. The statement, reported by Israeli media, appears to align with the State Department's earlier notification to Congress that Turkey will not receive the aircraft.
The United States clarified Saturday evening that Turkey does not yet meet the requirements for purchasing F-35 stealth fighters, hours after President Trump had indicated openness to the sale. The statement, reported by Israeli media, aligns with the State Department's formal notification to Congress on Friday that Turkey would not receive the aircraft due to non-compliance with conditions including the possession of Russian S-400 systems and ties to Hamas.
The State Department's notification on Friday afternoon (July 24, 15:22 Jerusalem) was the first official communication to Congress on the matter, following weeks of conflicting signals from the administration. Over the past month, Trump's position shifted repeatedly: on June 25 he said he would likely approve the sale; by July 7 he reversed course, warning that F-35s in Turkish hands would 'destroy the balance of power' in the Middle East. Vice President Vance had also said a legal review was needed. The Zioneer reported on July 7 that Trump's reported pledges should be met with skepticism given prior unfulfilled commitments.
The current statement, while not a definitive 'no,' reinforces the State Department's position. The phrase 'does not yet meet requirements' leaves open the possibility of future compliance, but the administration's parallel notification to Congress suggests a more categorical block. The Zioneer has tracked the evolving U.S. stance, including an analysis noting an internal administration split between Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is less enthusiastic, and Ambassador Tom Barrack, who pushes for the deal.
It remains unclear whether Turkey will take further steps to meet the requirements, such as removing the S-400 systems, or whether the U.S. position will shift again under continued diplomatic pressure from Ankara.
6 developments
- DevelopingTrump leans toward approving F-35 sale to Turkey, praises Erdogan's help
- DevelopingVance says US may sell F-35s to Turkey, needs legal review
- StrongTrump says he would not sell F-35s to Turkey, warns of regional imbalance
- DevelopingSegal: Turkey has not earned trust — F-35 sale to Erdogan endangers Israel's security
Source and signal
- Open-source intake