US Ambassador to Ankara Barrack: Resolution of S-400 and F-35 issue may be possible soon

US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack made written statements to Fox News Digital following his assessments within the scope of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026.

Recalling the topics he raised at the forum, Barrack shared his views on the foreign policy approach of the Donald Trump era and Turkey-US relations.

EMPHASIS ON F-35 AND S-400

Addressing Turkey's purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia and its subsequent removal from the F-35 program, Barrack reiterated that they want Ankara to be included in the program again.

Barrack stated, "Turkey is a vital ally that hosts critical US assets, contributes to NATO missions, and counters common threats. The sanctions triggered by the S-400 purchase and the exclusion from the F-35 program unnecessarily strain relations, while Russia benefits from this situation."

“IT CAN BE RESOLVED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS”

Recalling his previous statements regarding the S-400 crisis, Barrack pointed to contacts at the leadership level for a solution.

Barrack said, "The S-400 issue can and should be resolved within a few months, based on the strong personal relationship between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, through the sensitive diplomacy of Secretary (Marco) Rubio."

REFERENCE TO LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The US Ambassador drew attention to Section 1245 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), emphasizing the technical and legal basis.

Stating that "the ownership and functionality of the S-400 system can be verifiably terminated," Barrack expressed that this could be recorded with documents to be submitted to Congress by US Defense and State authorities, "confirming that F-35 technology is not at risk."

“REAL SUCCESS IS NEAR”

Arguing that Turkey's re-participation in the F-35 program would not pose a risk to US defense technologies, Barrack stated that the process would yield multifaceted gains.

"What I am saying is that real success is near; the restoration of Turkey's role in the F-35 ecosystem, the strengthening of NATO's interoperability, the revitalization of the US industry, and the elimination of Russia's influence." he assessed.

“PRAGMATIC COOPERATION” MESSAGE

Barrack also used striking expressions regarding the US foreign policy approach:

"We believe in peace through strength, an honest assessment of the facts, and achieving results that protect US interests without dragging America into endless conflicts. We want pragmatic cooperation with key partners like Turkey and a clear path to more stability in an unstable region."

News Source: 12punto