Türkiye and the United States may be on the verge of solving a years-long dispute over fighter jets and sanctions. On June 29, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, said there’s a real chance the two countries will settle the matter before the end of 2025.
Years-Long U.S.–Türkiye Defense Feud Nears End
The dispute began in 2019 when Türkiye purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. In response, the U.S. removed Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program, where Türkiye had been a major contributor both financially and industrially. The U.S. also imposed sanctions under a law known as CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
Since then, Türkiye’s leaders have called for the sanctions to be lifted. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that removing these restrictions would allow both countries to rebuild strong defense ties. However, the U.S. government has stood by its position that Türkiye must first remove the Russian weapons system before any sanctions can be lifted.
Now, that position may be softening. Ambassador Barrack told Türkiye’s Anadolu Agency during a visit to İzmir’s historic Kemeraltı Bazaar that both sides seem more willing than ever to find a solution.
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Political Will on Both Sides
Ambassador Barrack said the U.S. Congress is prepared to revisit the F-35 issue and the CAATSA sanctions. According to him, both countries’ leaderships are ready to direct their teams to “end this” and move forward.
He noted that President Donald Trump, along with President Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Senator Marco Rubio, are in support of finding a practical resolution. He said, “Congress will support a reasonable outcome.”
Although the F-35 issue has been a source of tension for years, Barrack emphasized that both governments now appear more motivated to resolve it. He called this moment a genuine opportunity to turn the page.
The ambassador also highlighted that the issue has now become less about the jets themselves and more about restoring broader trust and cooperation between the two nations.
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Beyond F-35s: A Bigger Türkiye–U.S. Vision
Ambassador Barrack said the U.S. and Türkiye are not just looking to fix defense disagreements — they want to reset their entire relationship. He mentioned that a meeting between both countries’ presidents and foreign ministers could happen soon to push discussions forward.
According to Barrack, “F-35s, F-16s, S-400s, sanctions, customs tariffs — these are all secondary elements of our mission.” He added that the main goal is to develop a stronger, more strategic partnership between Türkiye and the U.S.
This marks the first time in years that both sides appear ready to work on deeper cooperation. With clear support from top leaders in both countries, a breakthrough could be on the way. For now, all eyes are on the talks expected in the coming months.