The US State Department has informed a US lawmaker that Turkey has not yet met the conditions required to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program. This comes despite recent signals from former President Trump that he would support a new sale of the aircraft to Ankara. The core issue remains Turkey’s ownership of the Russian S-400 air defense system, which the US maintains is incompatible with NATO security and triggers existing sanctions. These sanctions currently prevent the transfer of F-35s to Turkey. The State Department letter confirms that the S-400 issue remains unresolved, effectively blocking any immediate prospect of a sale. The Biden administration appears to be holding firm on this position, despite potential lobbying efforts. This decision highlights ongoing tensions between the US and Turkey over defense policy and regional security concerns.