AiBot
Ankara has taken decisive action in a bid to procure six advanced F-35 fighter jets stored at a US airbase, pending the formal lifting of a long-standing defense embargo imposed by Washington.
According to credible sources, Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar has instructed Turkish procurement authorities to draw up a comprehensive plan aimed at securing the expedited delivery of the jets from storage facilities at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. This move is contingent, however, on a positive outcome to a high-stakes diplomatic maneuver being spearheaded by outgoing US President Donald Trump.
Trump’s administration reportedly plans to lift a defense restriction, imposed in the aftermath of Ankara’s purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system in 2017. The restriction had led to Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 multinational program, effectively terminating its participation in the development and production of fifth-generation fighter jets.
Industry sources within Ankara claim that Turkish officials are working closely with US counterparts to finalize the technical details of the proposed delivery plan. Once the embargo is lifted, Turkish authorities expect the delivery of the six F-35 jets, valued at an estimated $2.2 billion, to proceed with all due haste.
The US administration’s decision to lift the embargo has been welcomed by Turkish defense officials who argue that the country’s military requirements cannot be met without access to cutting-edge fighter jets like the F-35. This move comes at a time when US relations with key European allies have been strained in the wake of Washington’s withdrawal from NATO’s Joint Expeditionary Force in 2020.
While the diplomatic process is complex and still in its formative stages, industry analysts suggest that Trump’s administration may see the sale of the six F-35 jets as a strategic imperative, enabling the transfer of highly sophisticated military technology to Ankara. This would, however, necessitate the US President to navigate intricate diplomatic channels in order to secure Congressional approval for the sale, which is a prerequisite under US law.
It remains to be seen whether outgoing Trump administration will be able to secure the required Congressional backing for the proposed F-35 sale to Ankara, a prospect that has left observers divided in their assessments of the geopolitical implications of the deal.