Overview

• Erdogan told reporters in The Hague that Turkey has paid $1.3 to $1.4 billion toward the F-35s and that Trump appeared supportive of delivery.
• The U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara bought Russia’s S-400 air defenses, citing security risks.
• Turkish officials insist that the S-400 batteries do not jeopardize the stealth jets and decry their exclusion from the program as unfair.
• The White House and Defense Department have not yet confirmed any new agreement or timeline for jets to be shipped.
• Think tanks such as JINSA have urged Congress to ensure that any high-end arms sales to Turkey do not undermine Israel’s qualitative military edge as other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, pursue F-35s.