According to the prominent American magazine National Interest, Turkey’s return to the F-35 program is highly unlikely due to a range of geopolitical factors.
A major issue is Turkey’s deployment of Russian S-400 air defense systems, which has raised significant security concerns in Washington. The presence of this system is seen as a direct threat to the F-35's security protocols. Additionally, other barriers complicate Turkey’s involvement in the program, including the use of Huawei technology in building 5G networks, growing tensions with Greece, and Turkey's increasingly close relationship with Russia. Washington expects Ankara to fully comply with its political and security demands, which are also echoed by several EU member states. Any deviation from these expectations is met with sharp criticism. It’s worth noting that Turkey has acknowledged the impact of these developments and is now shifting its focus to the F-16 program. Ankara has signed multi-billion-dollar contracts with US manufacturer Lockheed Martin to purchase and upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets. Looking ahead, Turkey is planning to develop its own fifth-generation fighter jets, with an emphasis on strengthening defense cooperation with non-NATO countries.
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