The US State Department has notified Congress that Turkey does not meet the legal requirements to receive F-35 stealth fighter jets, according to a report. The notification reaffirms the position that Ankara's eligibility remains unresolved.
The US State Department has notified Congress that Turkey does not meet the legal requirements for receiving F-35 stealth fighter jets, according to a report. The notification, reported Thursday evening, reaffirms Washington's position on Ankara's eligibility for the aircraft.
The Zioneer has previously reported on several related developments in the US-Turkey defense relationship. On July 25, the United States said Turkey had not yet satisfied the conditions required for the F-35s. Earlier, on June 26, the Trump administration informed Congress of a $700 million jet engine sale to Turkey, and on June 25, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration planned to bypass congressional oversight for the engine deal. Vice President JD Vance confirmed on June 25 that President Trump had ordered a review of Turkey's legal compliance for a potential return to the F-35 program.
The F-35 program has been a point of contention since Turkey's 2019 purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which led to its removal from the program. The latest notification to Congress suggests that the legal hurdles remain unresolved.
2 developments
- StrongUS says Turkey does not yet meet requirements for F-35s
- DevelopingVance says US may sell F-35s to Turkey, needs legal review
- DevelopingSegal: Turkey has not earned trust — F-35 sale to Erdogan endangers Israel's security
- DevelopingTurkish FM Fidan criticizes US arms-sale denial to Ankara as 'unjustified'
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Open-source intake