Turkish official says Washington talks on defense ties 'positive and constructive'

A senior Turkish defense official has described meetings with US lawmakers in Washington as "positive and constructive," expressing optimism about the potential for progress on the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye. Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish Parliament's National Defense Committee, said the delegation met with leaders of key House committees and the head of the US delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

F-35 and S-400 Dispute

Akar said discussions focused on defense and security cooperation, with US officials indicating they were receiving "positive information" through their own channels. "Ultimately, the S-400 issue will be resolved one way or another. Once that issue is removed, the F-35 program will naturally resume," he said. He also noted that reports of Türkiye transferring S-400 systems to the UAE had not been discussed in those terms, adding that "an agreement has been reached to resolve this matter."

Counterterrorism and Regional Issues

Akar reiterated Türkiye's commitment to counterterrorism while respecting Iraq and Syria's territorial integrity. He also addressed Israeli opposition to Türkiye's possible return to the F-35 program, telling US counterparts that Washington should not allow Israel to "exploit" America. The delegation also discussed Armenia-Azerbaijan, Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war.