Turkey Doesn’t Meet Legal Conditions to Rejoin F-35 Program, State Department Tells Congress

The U.S. State Department told Congress that Turkey has not yet met the legal conditions required to rejoin the F-35 program. In a letter to lawmakers dated July 22, 2026, the department reaffirmed that Washington’s policy remains tied to CAATSA and Section 1245 of the FY2020 NDAA, which bar any transfer unless statutory requirements are fully satisfied. The State Department said Turkey must resolve the S-400 issue by removing the system and providing assurances it will not acquire it again, along with completing remaining certification steps.