Turkish Telecommunications Ties to China Complicate F-35 Aircraft Deal

The United States faces a significant national security dilemma as Turkey presses for readmission to the F-35 fighter program, with advocacy groups warning that Ankara’s deep telecommunications ties to Chinese firms present an unacceptable intelligence risk.

Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, has raised alarm bells about what he characterizes as an overlooked threat in the ongoing debate over Turkey’s potential return to the advanced fighter program. The concern centers on Turkey’s decision to integrate Chinese telecommunications companies into its national infrastructure, creating what Zemenides calls a direct pipeline for sensitive military information to Beijing.

“If Turkey got to F-35s, it would be the only F-35 nation that has led China completely into its telecommunications network,” Zemenides stated, noting that Chinese law permits Beijing to compel domestic companies to surrender information to state authorities.

The warning comes as the State Department has formally notified Congress that Turkey continues to fall short of conditions established under United States law for such weapons transfers. A letter from the department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs to Representative Wesley Bell confirmed that no F-35 transfer can proceed until Turkey relinquishes its Russian S-400 air defense system and meets remaining certifications under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program during the first Trump administration after Ankara acquired the Russian-made S-400 system, a move that raised serious concerns about the security of American military technology. The advanced fighter aircraft contains some of the most sensitive technology in the United States arsenal, and allowing it near Russian or Chinese intelligence gathering capabilities represents an unacceptable risk.

According to Zemenides, the situation has deteriorated since Turkey’s initial removal from the program. “We want Turkey to solve the S-400 issue, but that’s a floor, not a ceiling. Turkey has to earn the privilege of getting American weapons,” he said.

Turkish officials have reportedly proposed partial solutions that would theoretically neutralize the S-400 system without fully removing it from Turkish territory. Zemenides dismissed these proposals as inadequate, noting that any arrangement allowing Turkey to retain components or reactivate the system fails to address fundamental security concerns.

“They want us to be okay with keeping them in a box. Well, if they’re in a box, it can be taken out of a box,” Zemenides explained. “They propose solutions like, ‘Well, we’ll take out a chip, but we’ll keep the chip.’ Well, then you could put it back in.”

The debate has reportedly created divisions within the current administration. Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth have expressed serious reservations about proceeding with any sale to Turkey, while United States Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has advocated for a more accommodating approach. Zemenides criticized Barrack’s stance, suggesting the ambassador has become too sympathetic to Turkish interests.

The matter represents a delicate balancing act for American foreign policy. Turkey remains a NATO member and occupies a strategically vital position bridging Europe and the Middle East. However, Ankara’s increasingly independent foreign policy, including its relationships with Russia and China, has strained the alliance.

For now, the legislative and diplomatic barriers remain firmly in place, requiring Turkey to make substantial changes before any reconsideration of F-35 access can proceed.