President Donald Trump is reportedly considering lifting sanctions on Turkey and reinstating its role in the F-35 fighter jet program, contingent on a critical condition: rendering the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems inoperable, according to media reports.
Could Turkish arms aid to Ukraine reclaim Ankara's F-35 status
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Sources cited by Fox News indicate that during a recent phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump expressed openness to reversing Turkey’s exclusion from the program if Ankara agrees to neutralize the S-400 systems, potentially through disassembly or relocation to a U.S.-controlled base within Turkey.
The White House has not issued an official statement confirming these discussions, leaving the claims to circulate through media channels as of now. The development, reported by Fox News on March 21, 2025, marks a potential shift in U.S.-Turkey relations, which have been strained since Turkey’s 2019 purchase of the Russian systems prompted its removal from the F-35 initiative and subsequent sanctions.
The talks between Trump and Erdogan come amid a backdrop of long-standing tensions rooted in Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400, a move that alarmed U.S. officials and NATO allies.
The F-35, a stealth fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin, relies on advanced technology that Washington feared could be compromised if paired with Russian systems capable of collecting intelligence on its capabilities.
As a result, the U.S. expelled Turkey from the F-35 program, halting the delivery of jets Ankara had already partially paid for, and imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act [CAATSA].
Now, media outlets suggest Trump may be seeking a resolution that balances Turkey’s reintegration into the program with U.S. security concerns, though the specifics of how the S-400 systems would be rendered inoperable remain unclear.
According to Fox News, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the conversation, Trump proposed that Turkey could rejoin the F-35 program if it takes verifiable steps to eliminate the threat posed by the S-400. One option reportedly floated involves dismantling key components of the systems, effectively disabling their operational capacity.
Another possibility includes transferring the S-400 to a location under U.S. oversight, such as the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, where American forces are already stationed. These suggestions aim to address fears that Russian technology could be used to gather sensitive data on the F-35, a concern that has driven U.S. policy on this issue for years.
However, without an official comment from the White House, it remains uncertain whether these ideas represent firm proposals or exploratory discussions.
Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program has had significant repercussions for both nations. Ankara had planned to purchase more than 100 of the jets and was a manufacturing partner, producing components like parts of the fuselage and landing gear. The decision to buy the S-400, finalized in a $2.5 billion deal with Russia, upended that partnership.
The U.S. halted Turkey’s participation, redirecting its orders to other buyers and leaving Turkish companies out of the supply chain, a move estimated to cost Turkey’s defense industry hundreds of millions of dollars.
For the U.S., the fallout disrupted a key NATO ally’s military alignment and raised questions about the alliance’s cohesion at a time of growing geopolitical challenges.
The idea of neutralizing the S-400 as a condition for reentry into the F-35 program is not entirely new. In prior negotiations, U.S. officials had pressed Turkey to abandon the Russian systems altogether, a demand Ankara consistently rejected, citing its sovereign right to choose its defense partners.
Erdogan has argued that the S-400 purchase was a response to delays in acquiring U.S.-made Patriot missile systems, which Turkey had sought for years.
Analysts note that Trump’s apparent willingness to explore a compromise could signal a pragmatic approach, prioritizing improved relations with a strategically located ally over ideological rigidity. Yet, the feasibility of such a deal hinges on technical and diplomatic hurdles that have yet to be fully addressed.
Military experts have weighed in on what rendering the S-400 inoperable might entail. James Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy, told Reuters that partial disassembly could involve removing critical radar or missile components, making the system incapable of functioning without extensive repair. “It’s not just about turning it off; it’s about ensuring it can’t be switched back on without us knowing,” Townsend said.
Relocating the systems to a U.S.-monitored site, he added, would require ironclad agreements on access and oversight, a complex arrangement given Turkey’s insistence on controlling its own military assets. The Pentagon has not commented on these possibilities, leaving the discussion speculative for now.
On the Turkish side, officials have remained cautiously optimistic but noncommittal. A statement from Erdogan’s office following the call with Trump described the conversation as “productive” and focused on “strengthening bilateral ties,” though it made no mention of the F-35 or S-400 specifics.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler told reporters in Ankara last week that Turkey continues to seek a return to the F-35 program, calling the original exclusion “unfair” given its contributions as a partner.
Guler did not address the S-400 directly, but past remarks from Turkish leaders suggest a reluctance to fully relinquish the systems, which they view as a vital deterrent against regional threats like Syria and Kurdish militias.
The broader implications of this potential deal extend beyond the two countries involved. NATO, which counts both the U.S. and Turkey among its 31 members, has struggled to reconcile Turkey’s actions with the alliance’s reliance on interoperable defense systems.
The S-400 controversy has fueled debates about Turkey’s commitment to NATO principles, particularly as Erdogan has deepened ties with Moscow in recent years. Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s outgoing secretary-general, has repeatedly called for unity among members, though he has avoided taking a firm stance on the F-35 issue.
A resolution that brings Turkey back into the fold could ease some of these tensions, but only if it satisfies the security concerns of other allies, including Greece, which has its own disputes with Ankara.
Congressional reaction in the U.S. could also shape the outcome. Lawmakers from both parties have historically opposed leniency toward Turkey over the S-400 purchase.
Senator Bob Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned in 2020 that any rollback of sanctions would require “absolute certainty” that Russian systems pose no threat to American interests.
With Trump reportedly eyeing this shift early in his renewed tenure, Capitol Hill may demand transparency on any agreement, especially given the lack of a White House statement so far.
The CAATSA sanctions, enacted in 2020, would need formal review to be lifted, a process that could face resistance if the S-400 solution is deemed inadequate.
Public data on the F-35 program underscores its scale and importance. As of last year, Lockheed Martin had delivered over 900 jets worldwide, with the U.S. military accounting for the majority.
The program’s total cost is projected to exceed $1.7 trillion over its lifetime, making it one of the most expensive weapons systems ever developed.
Turkey’s initial investment included a $1.5 billion down payment for its jets, a sum it has sought to recover since its ouster. Reintegrating Turkey would likely involve financial negotiations, alongside the technical and political terms tied to the S-400.
For Trump, the move aligns with his broader foreign policy approach, which has often emphasized deal-making over confrontation. During his first term, he praised Erdogan as a “friend” and resisted calls for harsher measures despite bipartisan pressure.
This latest overture, as reported by the media, fits that pattern, though it risks reigniting debates about his handling of alliances and adversaries. Critics may argue it concessions too much to Turkey, while supporters could see it as a savvy way to reclaim a partner without escalating conflict.
The absence of a White House confirmation keeps the story in limbo. Until an official announcement emerges, the details remain a matter of conjecture, drawn from leaks and insider accounts rather than policy declarations.
What’s clear is that any path forward would require meticulous coordination—technically, to neutralize the S-400; diplomatically, to satisfy NATO and Congress; and strategically, to balance U.S. interests in a volatile region.
Whether Trump’s gambit succeeds may depend as much on Erdogan’s willingness to compromise as on Washington’s ability to verify that the Russian systems are truly out of play. For now, the prospect of Turkey’s return to the F-35 program hangs on that unresolved question, with the world watching for the next move.
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