×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Monday
19
Jan 2026
weather symbol
Athens 5°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Politics

HASC Chairman: Turkey “not coming back” to F-35 program as NATO trade

As Turkey blocks Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO, the F-35 is not a carrot the US will dangle, Adam Smith says

Newsroom June 16 05:02

As NATO members work to figure out what Turkey will accept in exchange for allowing Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, an emerging question is whether Turkey would be allowed back into the F-35 program as part of the negotiations.

The answer, as far as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is concerned, is pretty clear: “Turkey’s not coming back into the F-35 program,” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., told reporters this morning at an event hosted by the Defense Writers’ Group.

Turkey was an early partner in the F-35 program, and helped fund the development of the jet. The plan was for them to purchase 100 of the F-35A models, which have been bought by a number of NATO countries. However, a decision by Ankara to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system set off alarm bells, with the US and others raising concerns that the Russian system would be used to gather information about the F-35 for Moscow.

See Also:

Syrians increasingly choosing to leave Turkey as xenophobia grows

>Related articles

Today’s meeting between Mitsotakis and the “farmer leaders” seen as a step toward de-escalation: Targeted improvements with no cost on the table

Fire rages at a plastics factory in Menidi: 112 alert sounded in the area (video-photos)

Weather: Heavy rain, thunderstorms and snow with the new wave of severe weather – Forecasts with Attica also in focus

After several years of negotiating, Turkey in July 2019 accepted the S-400 onto its soil, and the Trump administration responded by kicking Turkey from the F-35 program, costing Ankara both its fleet of stealth fighters and the industrial base benefits of being in the program.

Fast forward to May, when Sweden and Finland, after years of balancing between Russia and NATO, announce they will seek alliance membership. While a number of nations, including the US, appear prepared to fast-track their ascension, bringing them into the fold requires the support of every NATO nation – and Turkey, in a surprise move, announced it was blocking the process, largely over Sweden’s decision to withdraw arms export licenses for Ankara and what the Erdogen government calls Stockholm’s support for terrorist organizations.

Read more: Breaking Defense

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#cyprus#diplomacy#F-35#Finland#greece#military#NATO#politics#sweden#turkey#usa#war#world
> More Politics

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

The 29 Best Restaurants Defining Thessaloniki’s Food Scene in 2026

January 19, 2026

Today’s meeting between Mitsotakis and the “farmer leaders” seen as a step toward de-escalation: Targeted improvements with no cost on the table

January 19, 2026

Fire rages at a plastics factory in Menidi: 112 alert sounded in the area (video-photos)

January 19, 2026

Fresh bagels in the polls, the rise of New Democracy, the finding about PASOK and President Maria, a napalm bomb in Lavrio (EAS), a Greek billionaire who is not a shipowner

January 19, 2026

Weather: Heavy rain, thunderstorms and snow with the new wave of severe weather – Forecasts with Attica also in focus

January 19, 2026

Trump undeterred despite Europe’s €93 billion retaliation plans: “Now is the time for Greenland, and it will happen”

January 19, 2026

High-speed train derailment in Spain: At least 24 dead and 73 injured, passengers say it was “like a horror movie”

January 19, 2026

Erfan Soltani confirmed alive by Iranian Human Rights Group after days of uncertainty

January 18, 2026
All News

> Politics

Prime Minister Mitsotakis’ agenda: From talks with farmers’ representatives to Davos for investment outreach

Talks with farmers expected to ease protests, followed by the prime minister’s participation in the World Economic Forum

January 18, 2026

Skirtsos: ‘After years of efforts, the first results on maritime safety are starting to become visible’

January 18, 2026

Mitsotakis: Greece will not be challenged by anyone with the Belharra frigates – Our goal is to support farmers with transparent subsidies

January 18, 2026

New legal migration rules for 90,000 pending residence permits

January 18, 2026

Mitsotakis on the Karystianou party: “There is a long distance between being the parent of a tragedy victim and being the leader of a political party”

January 17, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα