US issues shocking message: Resolution on Turkish S-400s and F-35s expected soon – Ankara’s new proposal

The Ambassador to Turkey and US Presidential Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, stated that Washington and Ankara will soon resolve the issue of Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 fighter jet production program, from which it was expelled due to its decision to purchase the Russian S-400 anti-missile system. "Soon you will see that the S-400 issue will be resolved. From my leadership's perspective, Turkey's return to the F-35 program is not a problem," the American ambassador asserted while speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, according to the Turkish financial newspaper Ekonomim. Furthermore, Barrack pointed out that Greece possesses both S-300s and F-35s, while when asked about Greek-Turkish relations, he avoided answering, instead making a reference to Mykonos. "As for the Greece-Turkey issue, it is another historic matter that I won't even try to address, because they will ban me from ever going to Mykonos again!" the American diplomat emphasized.

Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to Turkey:

"I think you're going to see the S-400 solution solved soon. From my boss's point of view, acceptance into an F-35 program is fine. Greece has S-300s and F-35s. So the Greece-Turkey issue is another historic issue I won't even attempt to get… pic.twitter.com/i31cgKyFTE

— Mintel World (@mintelworld) April 17, 2026

Negotiations

In the recent past, Barrack had stated that the US and Turkey are conducting negotiations regarding the S-400 issue. He had pointed out that, under American law, Turkey must abandon the use of S-400s in order to rejoin the production program for the next-generation American F-35 fighters. Turkey purchased four batteries of S-400 air defense systems from Russia in 2017, valued at $2.5 billion. In October 2019, Rosoboronexport (part of the state corporation Rostec) announced that the contract had been completed. Following the conclusion of the deal between Turkey and Russia for the supply of the S-400 system, Ankara was excluded from the American program for the development of the F-35 next-generation fighters.

The Güler proposal

Turkey has occasionally signaled that it does not intend to abandon the Russian anti-aircraft program, although a recent proposal was formulated by Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, who said that the most logical solution to the F-35 fighter program deadlock is the use of the S-400 as a standalone system, without integration into NATO networks. Yaşar Güler has pointed out that the purchase of the S-400 was a necessity for national security, as the US refused to sell the Patriot system to Turkey when requested. He also mentioned that the system is ready for use and that all necessary preparations, including the construction of storage facilities, have been completed. According to the Turkish minister, the system can be fully deployed in any designated area within approximately 12 hours, while he stressed that the S-400s will be used only in the event of a "very high-level threat" of an air attack against Turkey. At the same time, he has categorically ruled out the possibility of transferring the system to another country, such as Ukraine.

What Erdogan said

It is recalled that during Turkish President Rejep Tayip Erdogan's visit to the White House in September 2025, the S-400 issue was discussed with Donald Trump without, however, any significant or substantial development emerging. However, the Turkish President returned to the issue in early January 2026, just a few days after the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Erdogan called for Turkey's reintegration into the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, pointing out that this would strengthen ties with Washington and bolster NATO security. These statements were made in the context of written responses to questions from Bloomberg, which—as commented in the same report—underscore the Turkish leader's effort to use his personal relationship with Trump to restore ties that had been disrupted nearly a decade ago due to Turkey's purchase of Russian anti-aircraft defense systems. "The growing convergence in policy priorities between Ankara and Washington—on defense, energy, and the direction of regional conflicts—is reshaping Turkey's strategic balance between NATO, of which it is a member, and Russia, its largest trading partner," Bloomberg comments.

Meeting with Trump at the White House

Erdogan stated that he personally made his proposal to Trump during their meeting at the White House in September, calling the decision to expel Turkey from the F-35 program due to the purchase of Russian military equipment "unfair." "With Trump's return to the presidency, an opportunity arises to move Turkey-US relations to a more logical and constructive basis," Erdogan said. "Turkey's receipt of the F-35 aircraft for which it has already paid, and its reintegration into the program, are important and necessary" for better relations with the US and for NATO defense, the Turkish president added.

S-400 missiles

According to previous information from Bloomberg, Turkey is trying to return the S-400 anti-aircraft defense systems it purchased from Russia. Erdogan reportedly raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Turkmenistan, indicating that he is trying to restore the military relationship with the US, which he described as a "pillar" of bilateral ties. Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and a close ally of Trump, stated in late 2025 that Ankara is nearing the divestment of the S-400s, predicting that the issue could be resolved within four to six months. Turkey is also trying to purchase F-16 Block 70 aircraft from the US, although prices remain under discussion. Erdogan stated that Ankara expects the terms to align with the spirit of the NATO alliance, citing the purchase of Eurofighter as an example.

The thorn in the side

Another thorn in Turkish-American relations is the nearly 10-year-old case of the state-owned bank Turkiye Halk Bankasi AS. The bank was accused in 2019 of participating in a multi-billion dollar scheme to bypass sanctions against Iran and faces charges of fraud, money laundering, and sanctions violations. Erdogan stated that Turkey considers the charges incorrect and is in talks to protect the bank from "unfair penalties." "We hope a fair outcome is achieved that is fully in line with the law," he added.

American LNG

Turkey is the third-largest buyer of Russian crude and faced pressure from Trump in September to reduce oil imports from Moscow. Turkey's refineries began limiting their purchases following US sanctions on Russia's top two oil producers late last year. Trying to address US concerns, Ankara is reshaping its natural gas strategy, focusing on a portfolio centered around American LNG, and announced that it is seeking investments in American oil and gas fields. "We have significantly increased LNG supplies, particularly from the US," which now holds a "significant position" in Turkey's supply chain, Erdogan stated. "Turkey's position is clear: We act in accordance with our national interests and our energy security," the president said. "As a country that relies on imports for a large part of its hydrocarbons, we must follow a careful and balanced approach to all issues that may affect our energy security." But Russia still covered 61% of the country's oil purchases and 40% of its gas supplies, according to the most recent official Turkish data, a decades-long dominance that will likely take years to overturn.

Regional conflicts

Balancing relations with Russia against relations with NATO allies has been difficult for Ankara, especially since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Erdogan refused to impose sanctions on Moscow but limited its ability to send warships to the Black Sea through the Bosporus and sent weapons to Kyiv. Thanks to its ability to remain out of the war, Turkey remains a potential venue for future peace talks and could support the monitoring of any ceasefire between the involved countries, Erdogan said. "Turkey is the only key player country that can talk directly with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky," Erdogan stated. "Our door remains open to everyone. I have expressed this will clearly and repeatedly to both leaders." In the Middle East, Turkey was a key mediator behind the October ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel. Erdogan, a sharp critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the management of the war in the Gaza Strip, stated that a proposed International Stabilization Force in Gaza would struggle to gain legitimacy without Turkey's participation. "We are in a position of a central country for such a mission due to our deep historical ties with the Palestinian side, the security and diplomacy channels we have conducted with Israel in the past, and our regional influence as a NATO member country," he said. "Our political will is clear; we are ready to take on any responsibility for a lasting peace in Gaza."

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