US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee: Turkey Unlikely to Acquire F-35s Amid Russian Hardware Concerns

Ambassador Huckabee Cites Major Hurdles for F-35 Sale to Turkey

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently indicated that the acquisition of F-35 strike fighters by Turkey remains highly improbable. Speaking to Israeli media, Ambassador Huckabee highlighted two primary obstacles: the requirement for Senate approval and Turkey's existing military hardware from Russia.

' is not going to get them,' Huckabee stated, adding, 'It has to go to the Senate, and it's not likely to happen. And also, Turkey, by law, would not be able to get them unless they made major changes in the hardware that they have from Russia.' He also underscored the US commitment to maintaining Israel's quantitative military advantage in the region as a factor.

Background: Turkey's Removal from the F-35 Program

Turkey, a NATO ally, was removed from the multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019. This decision followed Ankara's purchase and delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system in 2017. US officials expressed concerns that the S-400 system could compromise the F-35's advanced stealth technology and potentially allow Russia to gather sensitive intelligence on the aircraft's capabilities.

The acquisition of the S-400 also triggered sanctions against Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) in 2020. These sanctions further restricted Turkey's ability to procure US military equipment, including the F-35s.

Legislative and Policy Hurdles

The US stance on Turkey's re-entry into the F-35 program is firmly rooted in legislation. US law mandates that for any transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey, the State and Defense departments must certify that Ankara has removed the S-400 system and committed to not purchasing similar Russian systems in the future. Congress has consistently maintained bipartisan support for CAATSA sanctions and Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 program.

Despite recent diplomatic engagements, including discussions under the Trump administration, the core requirement for Turkey to divest itself of the S-400 remains unchanged. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has reiterated this position, stating that 'as laid out in U.S. law, Turkey must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program.'

Turkey's Perspective and Ongoing Dialogue

Turkey has consistently expressed that its removal from the F-35 program was 'unfair,' asserting that it had fulfilled its financial and contractual obligations. There have been reports suggesting Turkey might consider returning the S-400 system to Russia in an effort to regain access to the F-35s, potentially seeking a refund. However, Russia has denied that such a return was on the agenda during high-level meetings.

While discussions between US and Turkish officials have been described as 'fruitful' in some instances, particularly concerning broader defense relations, the issue of the F-35s and the S-400 continues to be a significant point of contention. The current outlook suggests that without a fundamental change in Turkey's possession of the S-400 system, its return to the F-35 program remains highly unlikely.