Turkish officials condemned the sanctions as unjust and a blatant attack on national sovereignty, noting that they stemmed in part from lobbying pressure rather than genuine security concerns.
Not surprisingly, the restrictions ended up accelerating Türkiye’s push for the development of its defence industry.
With over 500 companies active in the defence and aviation sectors and world-class unmanned aerial systems already in production, Ankara turned the challenge into an opportunity to reduce its dependence on external sources for its military equipment needs.
How will sanctions removal help Ankara?
Analysts say the lifting of these sanctions will deliver substantial benefits to Türkiye in strategic, economic, and technological terms.
One, it will enable Türkiye’s reintegration into the F-35 programme.
The US objection was that the Turkish use of the Russian S-400 air defence system would endanger US-made fighter jets, making them incompatible with NATO systems.
However, Türkiye has maintained that there is no conflict between the two systems, while proposing a commission to study the issue.
The lifting of sanctions will let Ankara acquire these advanced fighters, helping modernise the Turkish Air Force with fifth-generation capabilities.
Two, removing restrictions on SSB will unlock new avenues for Ankara’s defence cooperation with the US.
Türkiye will regain access to US export licences and financing support. This will facilitate additional military procurements, technology transfers, and joint projects.
Three, ending CAATSA sanctions will remove a major irritant in US-Turkish relations, paving the way for deeper strategic cooperation.
Moreover, ending the impasse will strengthen not only Türkiye but also NATO as a whole.
