US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Türkiye cannot return to the F-35 fighter jet program while it continues to possess Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.

Rubio said US law imposes strict conditions on the potential sale of F-35 aircraft to Türkiye, according to Interfax.

“The provisions of the US National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA] set very strict conditions, so until they are met, the purchase is impossible. The problem is the S-400 systems. At the moment, this issue has not been resolved, and under the law, until it is resolved, we cannot make the delivery,” Rubio said.

He added that Türkiye is seeking a solution to the issue.

Rubio also said US President Donald Trump had expressed a desire, if possible, to provide Türkiye with the aircraft, noting that Ankara had already paid for several F-35s.

The US removed Türkiye from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased Russian S-400 systems in 2019. The US Congress has also barred F-35 deliveries to Türkiye as long as the country possesses the systems.