Erdoğan, the F-35 drama: the standoff with the US and the future of the Turkish Air Force - Economic Scenarios

Turkey's Pivot from S-400 to F-35 and Potential Sale to India

Ankara, July 1 - Turkey’s potential shift from Russian S-400 air defense systems to rejoining the U.S.-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program marks a significant pivot in its defense strategy, with implications that could reshape regional geopolitics, particularly in relation to India. This development, reported widely in recent defense news, underscores Turkey’s complex balancing act as a NATO member navigating tensions between Western alliances…

Erdoğan, the F-35 drama: the standoff with the US and the future of the Turkish Air Force - Economic Scenarios

At the NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reignited the spotlight on Turkey’s possible reintegration into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, a key issue for Ankara’s military ambitions. At a press conference, Erdoğan confirmed that technical talks with the United States have resumed, focusing exclusively on the F-35, while the issue of the Russian S-400 air defense system was called “closed”. Turkey…