Rubio says Turkey's S-400 systems still block F-35 deliveries
In short
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Turkey cannot receive F-35 fighters while it possesses Russian S-400 air-defence systems, Russian outlets reported. He said the issue remained unresolved and US law prevented delivery until the conditions were met.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Turkey could not return to the F-35 fighter programme while it possessed Russian S-400 air-defence systems, according to an Interfax report on October 8. RBC also reported his statement that the United States could not supply the aircraft while Ankara retained the systems. Both outlets attributed the remarks to an interview. [ 2 , 3 ]
Rubio said US national defence legislation imposed strict conditions and that purchasing the fighters was impossible until those conditions were fulfilled, Interfax reported. He identified the S-400 systems as the unresolved problem and said the law prevented delivery as long as that issue remained unsettled. [ 2 ]
Rubio said he believed Turkey was trying to find a solution. He also said President Donald Trump had expressed a desire to supply Turkey if possible, because it had already paid for several aircraft. TASS separately reported Rubio's warning that many years could pass before F-35 deliveries to Turkey, with supply dependent on conditions established by US law. [ 1 , 2 ]
The United States excluded Turkey from the F-35 programme in response to its purchase of Russian S-400 systems in 2019, Interfax reported. The report also said Congress had adopted legislation prohibiting F-35 sales to Turkey for as long as Ankara possessed the systems. [ 2 ]
Washington had said the S-400 systems were incompatible with NATO systems, according to Interfax. It had also expressed concern that operating them alongside F-35 fighters could allow Russia to obtain information on the aircraft's radar stealth characteristics and other classified features, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The S-400 issue continues to prevent Turkey's return to the F-35 programme, according to Rubio. Interfax reported that Washington has raised concerns about NATO compatibility and possible Russian access to sensitive fighter data.
Key facts
- Rubio said US law prevents F-35 deliveries to Turkey while it possesses S-400 systems. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rubio said he believed Turkey was trying to find a solution. [ 2 ]
- Rubio said President Donald Trump had expressed a wish to supply Turkey if possible, noting it had already paid for several aircraft. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reported that the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 programme after its 2019 acquisition of S-400 systems. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How Turkey might resolve the S-400 issue remains unsettled. Rubio said the issue had not been resolved and that he believed Turkey was seeking a solution, according to Interfax.