US says Turkey yet to meet conditions for F-35s, after Trump signaled he’d back sale

The US State Department informed Republican Rep. Wesley Bell that Turkey has not met the conditions for purchasing F-35 fighter jets, despite President Trump's earlier indication of support for the sale. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2020 due to its acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems, which led to US sanctions under CAATSA. The State Department reiterated that its policy "remains unchanged" and requires Turkey to resolve the S-400 issue by no longer possessing the system and providing assurances against future acquisitions. The letter also expressed concern over Turkey's relationship with Hamas, though it acknowledged Turkey's role in the Gaza ceasefire deal and its membership in Trump's Board of Peace. Israel has opposed the F-35 sale to Turkey, citing concerns about its qualitative military edge in the region.