"At a Dead End": Turkey's F-35 Deal Faces Opposition in Washington

The plan of US President Donald Trump to promote the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey is currently at a dead end, more than a month after he declared his intention to advance the move. This was reported by the American media outlet Semafor, which spoke with American officials and lawmakers familiar with the issue.

At the center of the dispute is the Russian S-400 air defense system that Ankara purchased. According to US law, Turkey is required to get rid of the system in order to gain access to the F-35 jets. Ankara has already paid for six jets, but these have remained in the US since Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 following the purchase of the Russian system.

One of the options being examined is the deactivation of the S-400 systems, which could allow the Trump administration to advance the deal. However, lawmakers in Washington believe that the law requires Turkey to get rid of the systems completely, and not just deactivate them. Another option that has been raised is the sale of the systems to the UAE. Turkey held contacts on the subject last month, but according to officials familiar with the details, the talks did not progress.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, who has long held a position blocking the deal, clarified that the situation has not changed. "At this point, they have not removed the S-400 systems, so everything is at a dead end," he told Semafor.

Republican Senator Rick Scott also expressed opposition to the transfer of the jets as long as the Russian system remains in Ankara's hands. According to him, if Turkey possesses the S-400, it cannot receive the F-35. Scott added that despite his ties with the administration, he has not heard of any real progress on the issue.

Israel is exerting pressure

According to the report, Israel is working with members of Congress in an attempt to keep in place the restrictions preventing Turkey from receiving the advanced jets. The concern in Jerusalem is that Turkey equipping itself with F-35s would harm Israel's qualitative military edge in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even warned last month, hours after Trump raised the possibility of selling the jets during a NATO summit alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that supplying F-35s to Ankara could "destroy the balance of power in the Middle East."

AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, also expressed opposition to the move. An organization spokesperson told Semafor that it shares the concerns of members of Congress regarding supplying the jets to a country that, according to her, hosts Hamas, helps Iran bypass sanctions, and deepens its ties with Russia and China.

However, the opposition does not stem only from Israeli interests. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen also pointed to what he defined as damage to democracy in Turkey, its presence in northern Cyprus, and previous incursions into Greek airspace as additional reasons for his opposition to the sale.

The Emirati solution raises a problem

The possibility that Turkey will sell the S-400 to the UAE could apparently solve the obstacle, but it is also complex. Democratic Senator Chris Coons said that any country that purchases and operates the Russian system is expected to encounter the same concerns and restrictions that Turkey faced. This is especially significant because Abu Dhabi has also shown interest in the past in purchasing F-35s from the US.

Russia may also become an obstacle: according to the report, the transfer of S-400 systems to a third country requires Moscow's approval, thereby giving it significant leverage over any Turkish attempt to get rid of the system to pave the way for the American jets.

Other options that have been raised are the deactivation of the systems or even their destruction. An American official told Semafor that there are several ways to solve the issue and that he estimates the Turks are interested in finding a solution.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia is also continuing to promote its own F-35 deal in Washington. Riyadh has increased its persuasion efforts on the subject, although no significant public progress has been recorded since Trump announced his intention to promote such a deal.

Despite the difficulties, the assessment is that the issue of the F-35 sale to Turkey will eventually reach a decision by Congress. If and when that happens, the deal is expected to place American lawmakers before a sensitive clash between Trump's desire to strengthen relations with Turkey, a key NATO ally, and the Israeli interest in maintaining its aerial advantage in the Middle East.