The F-35 and Turkey: Why Arming a NATO Ally Caught Between Russia and Israel Matters

Here's the tension: Turkey is a NATO ally. It's also bought Russian S-400 air defense systems. And now Trump is considering letting Ankara back into the F-35 fighter jet program, a move that's already drawing fire from Republicans, Israel, and defense officials who worry it compromises military security and alliance cohesion.

Why does this matter? The F-35 is the most advanced fighter jet in production. Giving it to a country equipped with Russian air defense systems means potentially sharing sensitive defense technology with adversaries who can reverse-engineer it. But Turkey also matters strategically: it controls the Strait of Bosphorus, borders Syria, and is crucial to NATO's eastern flank, especially now, with Russia actively waging an illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

This is exactly the kind of decision that can't be made by headline or wishlist. It demands clarity on what we're actually trying to accomplish.

The Real Problem

The U.S. kicked Turkey out of the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara took delivery of Russian S-400 systems. The reason was straightforward: S-400s are incompatible with NATO interoperability standards, and they gather intelligence on how the F-35 operates. Handing an F-35 to a pilot flying alongside Russian air defense systems creates a security vulnerability.

But Turkey didn't buy those systems in a vacuum. In 2015, when NATO couldn't deliver air defense systems fast enough, Turkey turned to Russia. By 2019, those systems were already deployed. Kicking Turkey out of the F-35 program didn't remove the S-400s, it just soured the relationship and left NATO weaker.

Now, reversing course by admitting Turkey back into the program without demanding concrete changes looks like rewarding the original problem. It also signals to Israel and other allies that the U.S. will negotiate on security commitments when political pressure mounts.

Why Ukraine and NATO Matter Here

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is an illegal war of aggression. Ukraine's right to self-determination is not negotiable. But Ukraine didn't defend itself alone, NATO countries supplied weapons, intelligence, and support. That alliance held because countries trusted each other's commitment.

Turkey has been part of that coalition. But it's also maintained pragmatic ties to Russia, something every NATO member has had to reckon with. The F-35 decision isn't really about Turkey alone. It's about whether NATO's security standards mean anything, or whether they bend when a major ally has leverage.

A strong NATO serves the common security. But a NATO that abandons its own rules erodes from inside.