Turkey's Fidan discusses CAATSA, F-35 return in US relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has spoken out about ongoing issues in Turkey's relationship with the United States, specifically addressing CAATSA sanctions and the F-35 fighter jet program. In an interview with CNN Türk, Fidan described CAATSA sanctions as the sole "persistent negative issue" hindering bilateral ties, while expressing confidence that they could be resolved.

Fidan noted that while specific decisions impacting Turkey are sometimes made, the CAATSA sanctions represent a more institutionalized problem. He pointed out that many countries have had similar sanctions lifted in recent years, characterizing the current ones as "administrative" rather than strictly legal. He revealed that both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and former U.S. President Donald Trump have shown a strong will to lift these sanctions, with directives issued to relevant ministers to find a solution.

Regarding Turkey's potential return to the F-35 program, Fidan differentiated between two aspects: lifting the sales ban on previously acquired aircraft and rejoining the program as a manufacturing partner. He suggested that lifting the sales ban is a more straightforward administrative decision, which he anticipates could follow the resolution of CAATSA issues. However, rejoining as a producer would require a new decision from the consortium of participating countries, recalling Turkey's previous exclusion.

Fidan indicated that steps are being taken to address the CAATSA sanctions, with progress expected to become visible to the public as these actions are implemented. He suggested that a resolution could occur in the near future, acknowledging that administrative processes and congressional legislative timelines may not always align perfectly. Despite potential procedural complexities in the U.S. Congress, Fidan conveyed that there is administrative will within the current U.S. leadership to resolve the matter.