US Secretary of State Marco Rubio poses with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan for members of the news media at the State Department in Washington, D.C., US, on March 25, 2025. [Leah Millis/Reuters]
WASHINGTON, DC – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrived at the US State Department with a long list of demands and high expectations.
During the discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he reiterated Ankara’s desire to lift Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions, rejoin the F-35 program, and further strengthen defense ties with the United States.
Secretary Rubio, well-versed in the issue, listened attentively, repeated the necessary prerequisites and conditions for progress, and suggested that negotiations continue at a technical level.
To the disappointment of the Turkish delegation, Fidan did not secure any commitment from Rubio. However, sources in Washington emphasized that the issue remains under discussion, all options are open and the final decision lies with US President Donald Trump.
The fluid nature of the situation is reflected in the State Department’s decision to change its official statement on CAATSA sanctions for the first time since their imposition back in 2019.
In recent days, US diplomats have concluded that while engagement with the Turkish government is ongoing, a more carefully worded statement is diplomatically more appropriate. It seems that the Department of State has not yet changed its policy, but a shift could occur at any time, depending on the White House’s direction.
As part of its ongoing discussions with Washington, Ankara is initially seeking the delivery of the six F-35 aircraft it had already paid for and was set to receive in 2020 before being expelled from the fighter program due to sanctions. However, Turkey’s ambitions extend far beyond these six jets. Its goal is that this delivery would serve as a gateway to reopening negotiations for a larger procurement and a full return to the F-35 program.
Additionally, Ankara has formally requested a visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House. While this visit was reportedly close to being scheduled for the second half of April, recent developments – particularly the fallout from the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – have introduced second thoughts in Washington. Nonetheless, sources say that Erdogan will be welcomed at the White House sooner or later.
Meanwhile, discussions in Washington regarding the F-35 have raised concerns in Israel. Sources in the nation’s capital indicate that Israeli officials are treating these developments with the utmost seriousness, escalating their firm opposition to the highest levels and maintaining pressure to block any potential shift in US policy.
In this context, the messages reaching Athens from Israeli officials are reportedly reassuring. There is a firm commitment to maintaining a united front against Turkey’s return to the F-35 program. Within Congress, key political factions – many of whom oppose Turkey’s military upgrade for various reasons – are also mobilizing. Greek-American lawmakers, having been briefed on the matter, have already expressed their readiness to take action if necessary.
During his discussions with Rubio, Fidan also proposed that Turkey assume the role of guarantor for securing the proposed ceasefire in the Black Sea. He emphasized that “Turkey is the only country that not only wishes to take on this role but also has the capability to handle such a complex task.” This proposal was received positively by US officials. On the contrary, Fidan’s request for the full lifting of sanctions on Syria was met with a much cooler response. Washington remains wary of the interim government and Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, and prefers to move forward with incremental, cautious steps rather than sweeping policy changes.