Vance: US Reviewing Path for Turkey to Acquire F-35 Jets

Vice President JD Vance announced that the United States government has launched a formal review to determine whether and how Turkey could gain access to F-35 fighter jets, reigniting a long-frozen diplomatic and defense dispute between the two NATO allies. Vance's statement marks one of the most direct acknowledgments from a senior American official that Washington is actively reconsidering Turkey's exclusion from the advanced stealth aircraft program.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 after Ankara proceeded with the purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system, a move that triggered US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The decision left Turkey without jets it had already helped manufacture components for and strained relations between the two NATO partners for years.

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Vance's remarks signal a potential thaw in that standoff, though the review's outcome remains uncertain. Any resolution would likely require navigating significant political and legal hurdles, including the existing sanctions framework and congressional scrutiny over arms sales to Turkey. Defense analysts note that bringing Turkey back into the F-35 ecosystem would carry both strategic benefits — strengthening a critical NATO flank — and risks, given Ankara's continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 system.

The timing of the review coincides with broader Trump administration efforts to reset relationships with several NATO members and regional powers. Turkey, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has long sought to restore full defense cooperation with Washington while maintaining its independent foreign policy posture, including ties with Moscow. Whether the review produces a concrete pathway or remains a diplomatic gesture is expected to become clearer in the months ahead.

Continue reading at Reuters.