U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt message to Ankara: Turkey cannot acquire F-35 fighter jets under current U.S. law. Rubio acknowledged that Turkey continues to possess Russia’s S-400 air defense system — the very acquisition that led to Turkey’s ejection from the F-35 program in 2019. “The issue is governed by legislative provisions,” Rubio stated, effectively placing the ball in Congress’s court and making clear the executive branch sees no workaround. The statement is likely to strain the already complicated U.S.-Turkey relationship further.
Walter Murrow
June 3, 2026
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