US lawmaker calls Türkiye's potential return to F-35 program 'very promising'

A senior US lawmaker has described discussions regarding Türkiye's potential return to the F-35 fighter jet program as "very promising," following meetings held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month. Republican Representative Mike Turner said participants in the talks agreed that the information received from Turkish officials was encouraging.

A Strategic NATO Partner

Turner declined to disclose specific details of the discussions but noted that Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a key figure behind the relevant legislation, shared a similar positive view. "They're a member of NATO, a very strong member of NATO, having just hosted the summit, which was very successful," Turner said, adding that he hopes Türkiye will follow through on its commitments and return to the program in a manner that reinstates its participation.

Türkiye's Role in F-35 Production

The lawmaker also pointed to Türkiye's previous involvement in manufacturing components for the fifth-generation fighter jet, emphasising the significance of re-entering production. "They were also a producer of parts for the F-35. So entering back into production would be very, very important," he said. The remarks signal growing momentum toward resolving the long-standing dispute over Türkiye's exclusion from the programme.