U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack Calls F-35-Türkiye Standoff 'Insane'

(MENAFN) The US ambassador to Türkiye has branded the long-running deadlock over Ankara's exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet program "insane," pressing for an urgent diplomatic resolution he says would fortify the NATO alliance shared by both nations.

Tom Barrack, speaking to Fox News Digital on the heels of his appearance at last weekend's Antalya Diplomacy Forum, warned that the impasse demands immediate attention, reaffirming Türkiye's standing as a critical US ally — one that hosts key American assets, contributes to NATO operations, and helps counter mutual security threats.

Barrack, who concurrently serves as US special envoy for Syria, argued that Washington's sanctions and Türkiye's expulsion from the F-35 program — both triggered by Ankara's acquisition of Russia's S-400 air defense system — have needlessly damaged bilateral ties while handing Moscow a strategic advantage.

"The S-400 issue can and should be resolved within months through surgical diplomacy," Barrack said, pointing to efforts spearheaded by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and anchored in the personal rapport between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Responding to Congressional pushback — including objections from Senator Rick Scott regarding potential arms transfers — Barrack assured that any deal struck would operate in full compliance with Section 1245 of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

"That means verifiable cessation of possession and operability of the Russian S-400 system," he said, adding that formal certifications from the US departments of Defense and State would confirm there is no risk to sensitive F-35 technology.

"There will be no shortcuts on American security standards," he stressed.

With confidence, Barrack signaled that a turning point is fast approaching: "What I am signaling is that real breakthroughs are imminent: restoring Turkey's role in the F-35 ecosystem, strengthening NATO interoperability, boosting US industry, and denying Russia leverage."

Framing the diplomatic push as a natural extension of Trump's foreign policy playbook, he said: "This is classic Trump deal-making: enforce the law, protect our technology, and rebuild alliances that advance American strength."

"In every one of these statements, I am speaking directly in support of this administration's foreign policy. We believe in peace through strength, candid assessment of realities, and delivering results that protect U.S. interests without dragging America into endless conflicts," Barrack added.

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