Turkey in Exchange
By Chris Williams
In a significant shift in U.S.-Turkey defense relations, President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions and resuming the sale of advanced fighter jets, including the F-35, to Turkey. This development follows a recent phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during which both leaders discussed enhancing bilateral defense cooperation. 
The potential deal hinges on Turkey addressing concerns over its possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. The U.S. had previously expelled Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 due to fears that the S-400 could compromise the stealth capabilities of the F-35 aircraft. To move forward, Turkey may need to render the S-400 system inoperable, possibly by disassembling it or relocating it to a U.S.-controlled base within Turkey. 
In addition to the F-35 discussions, the U.S. Congress has approved a $23 billion sale that includes 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits for 79 existing Turkish F-16s. This move aims to bolster Turkey’s defense capabilities and reaffirm its role within the NATO alliance.
The Turkish government has emphasized the importance of lifting sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and finalizing both the F-16 procurement process and Turkey’s re-entry into the F-35 program. These points were highlighted in the readout of the recent call between Erdoğan and Trump. 
Turkey’s initial removal from the F-35 program was a direct response to its 2019 acquisition of the S-400 system from Russia, a move that strained relations with the U.S. and other NATO members. The U.S. expressed concerns that the S-400 could be used to gather intelligence on the F-35’s advanced capabilities, leading to Turkey’s suspension from the program and the imposition of sanctions.
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