US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Burke said Friday he believes the obstacles preventing US approval of F-35 fighter jet deliveries to Turkey will be resolved "within four to six months," according to remarks at a conference in Abu Dhabi, quoted by Bloomberg.
The F-35 was developed as part of an international project that included several countries, among them Turkey, but it was removed from the program in 2019 after purchasing S-400 air defense systems from Russia. Since then, Turkey has been trying to return to the project and acquire the advanced aircraft for its aging fighter fleet.
Burke said in Abu Dhabi that the fact that the systems in question are not operationally active has eased some of the US concerns, but they remain in Ankara's possession, which makes resolving the issue difficult.
"I believe these issues will be resolved within four to six months," Burke was quoted as saying, and when asked whether Turkey is close to removing the Russian air defense system, he answered "yes." Since Trump returned to the White House, he has demonstrated close friendship with Erdoğan, despite growing tensions between Ankara and Jerusalem, which he promised to resolve.
Trump has expressed willingness to sell the advanced aircraft to Turkey, but during Erdoğan's visit to Washington in September, he said Erdoğan "will have to do something for us" to bring the deal to fruition.
Since its removal from the program, Turkey has been working on several parallel tracks to renew its fighter fleet: a deal to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from Britain and Germany, purchasing new F-16 aircraft and upgrading existing ones, and developing its own fighter jet – the KAAN – which is expected to enter service by 2028, according to Turkey.
Turkey and the US are the two owners of NATO's largest militaries, and on Turkish territory is located Incirlik Base – one of America's most important bases in the Middle East. Nevertheless, Turkey has maintained balanced relations with Russia over the years, even after the invasion of Ukraine, and frequently presents itself as a possible mediator in talks and has hosted them in the past.
