State Department Says Turkey Still Fails F-35 Rules Over Russian S-400 System
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
State Department Says Turkey Still Fails F-35 Rules Over Russian S-400 System
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 30
Summary
A July 22 State Department letter to Congress said Turkey remains legally ineligible for F-35 fighters because it still possesses the Russian-made S-400 system and has not met certification requirements.
U.S. law bars any transfer until Ankara gives up the S-400 and related equipment, pledges not to buy it again and satisfies Congress that the remaining conditions are met.
Trump has nonetheless said he would consider selling the jet and lifting sanctions, calling ties with Turkey better than ever after meeting President Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 and sanctioned in 2020 because U.S. officials warned the S-400 could expose sensitive data on the stealth aircraft to Russia.
Congress remains a major hurdle: 18 House members recently urged leaders to block any sale, while Israel and other critics cite Turkey's Hamas ties, Russia links and regional tensions.