US weighs S-400 disablement option for F-35 sale to Turkey, Trump signals support
US officials are discussing the possibility of disabling elements of Turkey's Russian-made S-400 air defense systems as a way to allow Ankara to purchase F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, according to a report by the American portal Semafor, as cited by TASS. The scenario is viewed by Washington as a compromise that could circumvent restrictions imposed by the US Congress while permitting Turkey to retain its S-400s. However, the Trump administration has not yet made a final decision on how to proceed with the sale.
President Donald Trump, speaking during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, said he does not view Turkey's earlier purchase of S-400 systems from Russia as an obstacle to a potential F-35 contract. "We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," Trump said, according to TASS. He also confirmed that the contract is "something certainly we consider."
Trump announced on Tuesday that he would lift US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its acquisition of the S-400s, a move that aligns with Ankara's expectations. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that Turkey hopes to achieve a result on lifting sanctions and its desire to purchase F-35s soon, adding that there should be no defense industry restrictions between allies. Fidan told state broadcaster TRT Haber that there was political will from both sides to remove the sanctions and that relevant ministers were working to resolve the issue.
In 2017, Turkey acquired four divisions of S-400 air defense systems from Russia in a $2.5 billion deal, with deliveries completed by October 2019. Following the signing of the contract, Ankara was excluded from the US program to develop the next-generation F-35 fighter jet. In 2020, Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over the S-400 purchase. The US Congress passed legislation requiring Turkey to end possession of the S-400s in order to rejoin the F-35 program.
Trump, who visited Ankara for a NATO Summit, said he has "not totally made up his mind" on the F-35 issue, despite two sources telling Reuters that he was expected to support the sale. Turkish daily Hurriyet reported on Friday that Turkey could announce it would resell the S-400s to one of the Gulf nations as soon as Friday to persuade the US to proceed with the sale.
Fidan noted that there are two matters in Turkey-US relations subject to US legislation: CAATSA and the F-35 issue. "God willing, we will reach a conclusion soon; in other words, I do not think there will be any problems in this regard," he said.
The development marks a potential shift in the long-standing dispute that has strained NATO relations. While Washington considers the disablement option as a compromise, no final decision has been made, and the path forward remains uncertain.