Trump and Erdoğan Ties Revive F-35 Talks with Turkey

Former President Donald Trump’s enduring relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is playing a pivotal role in reigniting talks over Turkey’s potential reintegration into the F-35 fighter jet program, a defense deal that had been frozen due to Ankara’s acquisition of a Russian missile system. According to a recent report by Defense News titled “Trump-Erdoğan ties are propelling F-35 talks with once-banned partner,” diplomatic and defense sources suggest that informal discussions about a pathway back into the multinational stealth fighter project are gaining traction, despite lingering concerns within the Pentagon and among key NATO allies.

The renewed dialogue follows several years of strained relations between Washington and Ankara, which culminated in Turkey’s removal from the F-35 consortium in 2019. That decision came after the Turkish government proceeded with the procurement of the Russian S-400 air defense system—a move American officials characterized as incompatible with NATO interoperability and a direct threat to the security of the F-35 platform.

Now, however, with leaders across both nations reassessing the strategic future of their alliance in light of shifting geopolitical conditions, there are signs that the U.S.-Turkey defense relationship may be entering a period of cautious rehabilitation. As outlined in the Defense News report, these early conversations are largely unofficial, with no formal negotiation underway, but they are indicative of a broader shift rooted in diplomacy at the highest levels.

Trump, who previously praised Erdoğan as a “friend” and maintained warm personal rapport with the Turkish leader during his presidency, remains an influential figure with the potential to sway U.S. foreign policy should he return to office. His continued engagement with Erdoğan could be laying the groundwork for a more accommodative stance on Turkey’s defense ambitions, especially if other transatlantic priorities—such as deterring Russian expansionism—come to the fore ahead of long-standing friction points.

Turkey’s strategic value has long been recognized within the NATO alliance, both for its geographic position on the southeastern flank of Europe and its sizable military capabilities. Proponents of re-engagement argue that excluding such a significant ally from the F-35 program undermines collective deterrence efforts. Critics, however, point to Turkey’s deepening ties with Moscow and ongoing domestic authoritarian tendencies as destabilizing factors that outweigh short-term strategic gain.

In public statements, U.S. defense officials have remained tight-lipped about any moves to readmit Turkey into the F-35 effort. But sources cited in the Defense News article say internal debates are intensifying, especially as lobbying efforts from pro-Turkey defense contractors and intermediaries gain momentum in Washington.

The potential normalization of Turkey’s position in the F-35 program would likely require significant concessions, including the decommissioning or containment of the S-400 systems currently on Turkish soil, as well as verifiable assurances that critical F-35 technologies would remain secure.

While it remains uncertain how or when formal negotiations might resume, the apparent warming of bilateral channels—driven in part by personal diplomacy—is reviving a conversation long thought dormant. As global defense dynamics continue to evolve, the reconfiguration of long-frozen alliances remains a defining feature of the emerging international order.