Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said Monday efforts to resolve issues surrounding Türkiye's Russian-made S-400 air defense system are continuing as Ankara seeks to rejoin the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program.
In a written response to questions from lawmakers, Güler said Türkiye and the United States are pursuing solutions through dialogue amid improving bilateral ties. The status of the S-400 system and Türkiye's return to the F-35 program was also a key topic during talks between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month.
In 2019, the U.S. removed Türkiye from the F-35 program, where Ankara was also a production partner, following its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system.
Washington claimed the system would endanger the jets and is incompatible with NATO systems, while Ankara repeatedly said there is no conflict between the two and proposed a commission to study the issue.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, at the Presidential Complex earlier July as he arrived for bilateral talks and a key NATO summit in Ankara.
