The Daily Populous Sunday July 26th, 2026 evening edition
Authored by jpost.com and submitted by NotSoSaneExile

Turkey still does not meet the legal requirements to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program, the US State Department said in a letter to Congress obtained by The Jerusalem Post.

The July 22 letter, sent by the State Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs on behalf of US President Donald Trump in response to a letter from Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Missouri), reiterated that Washington’s policy toward Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program remains unchanged and is fully consistent with the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and Section 1245 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

According to the letter, no F-35 aircraft can be transferred to Turkey until Ankara fully complies with US law. That includes resolving the dispute over its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system by no longer possessing the system or any related equipment, providing assurances that it will not acquire the system again, and meeting all remaining statutory certification requirements.

“Turkey has not yet met these conditions,” the State Department wrote. The department added that any process aimed at resolving the S-400 issue must be “transparent, lawful, and consistent with our national security interests.”

Referring to President Trump’s recent bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the letter said Washington will continue to engage with Ankara to resolve the S-400 issue while also strengthening NATO cooperation.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrives at the Bestepe Presidential Compound during a formal welcome for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (credit: Emrah Gurel/Pool via REUTERS)

The letter described the broader US-Turkey relationship as one based on shared security interests and balanced bilateral trade, while stressing that Washington will continue engaging Turkey on areas of mutual interest “while holding Turkey accountable when its actions undermine US interests.”

The letter credits Turkey for its diplomatic support with Russia-Ukraine, Azerbaijan-Armenia, and Gaza

It also credits Ankara with supporting several US diplomatic initiatives, including efforts involving Russia and Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and Gaza, as well as counter-ISIS and broader regional counterterrorism operations.

While acknowledging Washington’s longstanding concerns over Turkey’s relationship with Hamas, the State Department says Ankara played “a pivotal role” in advancing President Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

According to the letter, Turkey used its ties with Hamas’s political leadership to help secure acceptance of the plan and advance the first phase of the ceasefire, later becoming a founding member of the Board of Peace. The letter also says Turkey continues contributing to regional stability, including in Syria.

Hamas' financial relationship with Turkey is still a concern for Washington

At the same time, the State Department emphasized that the United States continues to sanction Hamas-related entities, including sham charities that funnel money to the group’s military wing.

It warned that Hamas’s use of informal financial networks and unlicensed exchange houses in Turkey “remains a concern” and says Washington is committed to disrupting those illicit financing streams.

leto78 on July 26th, 2026 at 07:47 UTC »

Trump cannot do anything about this. The law that stops Türkiye from receiving the F-35 was passed by congress, and there are no mechanisms for Trump to declare that Türkiye is now complying with the requirements of the law.

Only a new law from Congress revoking the previous law would allow Türkiye to receive the F-35.

uttermost_system on July 25th, 2026 at 21:12 UTC »

Turkeys been stuck in this awkward spot for years now, sunk billions into the F-35 program before getting kicked out over the S-400 purchase. Backing down on the Russian system would mean losing face with Moscow, but keeping it means no fifth gen fighters from the US. Bit of a self inflicted wound when you think about it, they were basically a tier 1 partner on that jet before Erdogan went shopping elsewhere.

NotSoSaneExile on July 25th, 2026 at 20:38 UTC »

Turkey still cannot receive F-35 fighter jets because it owns the Russian S-400 air defense system. The US says Turkey must completely remove the system and promise not to buy it again before the deal can move forward.

The US still sees Turkey as an important NATO partner and praised its help in regional diplomacy, including Gaza. However, Washington remains concerned about Hamas using financial networks in Turkey.