US Ambassador Tom Barrack has signaled a potential breakthrough in the long-standing defense impasse between Washington and Ankara, expressing confidence that Turkey could soon rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program.
Speaking at the annual Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Ambassador Barrack stated that the primary obstacle—Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system—is nearing a resolution. “I think you’re going to see the S-400 situation solved soon,” Barrack noted, adding that from the perspective of the current administration, “acceptance into the F-35 program is fine.”
In a notable comparison, the Ambassador pointed out that “Greece operates both S-300s and F-35s,” suggesting that NATO interoperability issues can be managed. Turkey is reportedly weighing options to decommission or relocate the Russian systems to mend ties with the US and reclaim its status as a partner in the fifth-generation fighter program, from which it was expelled in 2019.
Tom Barrack, the Greece-Turkey dispute, and Mykonos
When asked about the delicate balance of Greek-Turkish relations, Barrack offered a lighter touch: “The Greece-Turkey issue… that’s another historic matter. I won’t even attempt to navigate that territory, because they’ll forbid me from ever visiting Mykonos again.”
Analysts point out that by joking about Mykonos, he’s signaling that he wants to remain a “friend of Greece” (and keep his social access there) while simultaneously doing his job, which currently involves bringing Turkey back into the US defense fold.
Tom Barrack, US Ambassador to Turkey:
"I think you're going to see the S-400 solution solved soon. From my boss's point of view, acceptance into an F-35 program is fine. Greece has S-300s and F-35s. So the Greece-Turkey issue is another historic issue I won't even attempt to get… pic.twitter.com/i31cgKyFTE
— Mintel World (@mintelworld) April 17, 2026
Turkey was a founding partner in the F-35 program, contributing parts and funding. However, when Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 system, Washington argued that the Russian radar could “learn” the F-35’s stealth secrets if they operated in the same vicinity. This led to Turkey’s removal from the program and the delivery of 100 jets being frozen.
Trump administration examines options for readmitting Turkey to the F-35 program
Under the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (CAATSA), the US is legally bound to sanction nations that make significant defense deals with Russia. Rejoining the F-35 program requires a formal certification to Congress that Turkey no longer “possesses” the Russian system.
Turkey has often pointed to Greece as a counterargument. Greece (a NATO member) owns the Russian-made S-300 system, yet was recently cleared to purchase F-35s. The US distinction has historically been that the S-300 is older technology and was never integrated into the core NATO network in a way that threatened F-35 security.
The US appears more willing to find a “face-saving” exit for Ankara—potentially involving the S-400s being stored under international supervision or moved to a third country—in exchange for a strengthened NATO southern flank.
Related: The F-35 Dilemma: Can Trump Re-admit Turkey?
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