Turkey says it is closer than ever to securing a deal for American F-35 fighter jets, according to senior Turkish offici...

Turkey says it is closer than ever to securing a deal for American F-35 fighter jets, according to senior Turkish officials who spoke publicly on Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister and Turkey's NATO ambassador Levent Gümrükçü said Ankara and Washington are nearer to resolving their long-running dispute over CAATSA sanctions and the F-35 program than at any previous point. The core obstacle remains Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system. The US removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara refused to abandon the Russian system, and Washington has insisted the two are incompatible since S-400 radar could gather intelligence on the stealth jet's capabilities. Gümrükçü framed the resolution of these differences as a clear priority for Ankara, signaling Turkey is actively pushing to close the gap. No timeline for a deal was given, and the S-400 issue has not been formally resolved, meaning a final agreement is not yet in hand. If Turkey does re-enter the F-35 program, it would represent a major shift in NATO's military balance in the Eastern Mediterranean, giving Ankara one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world alongside its existing fleet. Greece currently operates F-35s and has been a consistent opponent of Turkey receiving the aircraft, citing Aegean tensions and Cyprus. The announcement comes as US-Turkey relations have seen renewed diplomatic activity in 2026, with both sides appearing to soften positions on several longstanding friction points. #Greece #Turkey #F35