- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is seeking re-entry into the U.S.-led F-35 program and raised the issue directly with President Donald Trump, calling Turkey’s removal unjust.
- Israel said Israeli-origin technologies integrated into the F-35 cannot be transferred to Turkey, setting limits on any potential U.S. decision to sell the aircraft.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Turkish re-entry into the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program, saying the move would strengthen NATO security and help repair ties with Washington, according to written comments provided to Bloomberg.
Erdogan said he raised the issue directly with Donald Trump during a White House meeting in September, describing Turkey’s removal from the program as “unjust.” Ankara was expelled after purchasing Russian-made air defense systems, a decision that halted Turkey’s participation and access to aircraft it had already paid for.
“With Trump’s return to office, an opportunity has emerged to move Türkiye–US relations onto a more reasonable and constructive footing,” Erdogan said, using the country’s official name adopted in 2022. “Türkiye’s receipt of the F-35 aircraft for which it has already paid, and its reintegration into the program, are important and necessary” for better ties with the United States and NATO’s defense, he added.
The comments underscore Ankara’s effort to leverage a reset with Washington amid closer alignment on defense, energy, and regional issues. Turkey remains a NATO member while maintaining extensive economic ties with Russia, a balance that has shaped its defense procurement choices over the past decade.
Israel, however, has publicly signaled constraints on any potential U.S. decision to sell F-35s to Turkey. Speaking to Kathimerini on Jan. 5, 2026, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said Israeli-origin technologies integrated into the aircraft present a firm barrier.
“We have our reservations [regarding a possible sale],” Haskel said, adding that “a lot of the technology inside the airplane is technology produced by Israel.” She said that technology is “not something that we will share with them.”
Haskel further stated that Israeli technology would not be transferred to Turkey “even if they do get those airplanes,” emphasizing limits tied to allied intellectual property within the multinational program.
The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter led by the United States and produced through a multinational partnership. While Washington oversees sales and program management, the aircraft incorporates subsystems and technologies developed by partner nations, including Israel, which operates its own customized F-35 variant.
Trump has said he is “very seriously considering” an agreement to sell F-35s to Turkey, according to prior public remarks. No formal decision has been announced, and U.S. officials have not outlined conditions or timelines related to Turkey’s potential re-entry.
Turkey was an original partner in the F-35 program and contributed to component manufacturing before its removal. The aircraft Turkey paid for were never delivered, and Ankara has since pursued alternative combat aircraft options while continuing to press for reinstatement.