U.S. policy on any future transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey remains unchanged, with Ankara yet to meet the legal conditions required under U.S. law, according to a State Department letter to Congress.

The position was outlined in a response from the State Department’s Bureau of Legislative Affairs to Democratic Representative Wesley Bell, who had sought clarification from President Donald Trump on U.S.-Turkey relations, sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), Turkey’s status in the F-35 programme and its ties with Hamas.

According to the letter, the White House tasked the State Department with responding on the president’s behalf, reaffirming the administration’s official position.

The State Department said U.S. policy continues to be governed by Section 231 of CAATSA and Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.

It said any transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey would require Ankara to fully comply with the legislation. That includes relinquishing possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system and related equipment, providing assurances that it will not reacquire the system, and meeting all certification requirements set out in U.S. law.

The department said those conditions have not yet been met and added that any resolution of the S-400 issue must be transparent, consistent with U.S. law and compatible with the national security interests of the United States.