Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler confirmed on July 21, 2026, that Ankara is engaged in discussions with third countries regarding the future of its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. This move is aimed at resolving a long-standing dispute with the United States that led to Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2021. While Guler did not name the involved nations, this marks the clearest confirmation that a transfer of the Russian hardware is under consideration as part of a push to mend military and political ties with Washington.

Despite the positive diplomatic climate reported by Guler, the U.S. State Department clarified on July 22 that Turkey still fails to meet the legal requirements for reentry into the F-35 program. According to U.S. law, specifically the CAATSA act and the 2020 defense budget, Turkey must completely relinquish the S-400 system to be considered for program readmission. Experts note that any potential return would be a complex, multi-stage process involving the lifting of sanctions, the reactivation of participation agreements, and the resolution of approximately $1.4 billion in frozen investments from 2019.

Discussions between Washington and Ankara remain ongoing, with U.S. officials maintaining that any solution regarding the S-400s must be transparent, lawful, and aligned with American national security interests.