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US Ambassador Barrack: S-400 Issue Is No Longer a Critical Obstacle in Türkiye-US Relations
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said the S-400 dispute is being actively addressed by Ankara and Washington and no longer constitutes a “critical obstacle” to bilateral relations, while stressing that US legal requirements regarding the Russian-made system remain clear and binding.
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack has made notable remarks on the long-running dispute between Ankara and Washington over Türkiye’s Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. Barrack said the issue is being worked on and does not constitute a critical obstacle in Türkiye-US relations.
“S-400 Issue Is Being Worked On”
Responding to a question about the view in Washington that “the ball is in Türkiye’s court” over the S-400 issue, Barrack said the answer depends on which aspect of the matter is being discussed.
He noted that the dispute stems from US legislation, including the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Barrack said the legal requirements concerning the operational status, ownership and disposition of the S-400 system are clear and binding under US law.
“Not a Critical Obstacle”
Despite the continuing legal requirements, Barrack indicated that the issue no longer represents a defining obstacle in broader relations between Ankara and Washington.
“The S-400 is an issue that will be resolved,” Barrack said, describing it as one of several matters that Türkiye and the United States are working together to address.
Barrack Highlights Türkiye’s Defense Industry
The US ambassador also emphasized Türkiye’s growing domestic defense capabilities, saying the country has developed a powerful and increasingly self-sufficient defense industry independent of the F-35 program.
Barrack pointed to Türkiye’s position as NATO’s second-largest military force and highlighted developments in areas including unmanned aerial vehicles and the domestically developed KAAN fighter jet.
S-400 and F-35 Dispute Dates Back Years
Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system became one of the most significant disputes in Ankara-Washington defense relations. Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 and was subsequently subjected to CAATSA sanctions in 2020.
The United States has maintained that requirements under US law regarding the S-400 must be addressed for Türkiye to return to the F-35 program, while Ankara and Washington continue discussions aimed at resolving their outstanding defense-related disputes.
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