Turkey is not abandoning its efforts to return to the F-35 program and acquire the leading fifth-generation fighter. With President Trump supportive, but with the “obstacle” of Congress always present, Ankara is focusing its efforts on applying pressure to the right people.

Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense has signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with Ballard Partners, a Washington-based lobbying firm that maintains close ties to Donald Trump, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents reviewed by Middle East Eye.

The agreement, signed on August 8, provides for the company to receive $200,000 per month for government relations, strategic consulting and representation services on behalf of the Turkish government before the federal government, as well as for briefing Ankara on developments in Congress and U.S. policy, according to the same documents.

Ballard Partners is headed by Brian Ballard, a prominent Republican from Florida who raises money on behalf of the party. He also worked on Trump’s presidential campaign.

Ankara and Ballard Partners have a history of cooperation, Turkiye Today writes.

In 2017, during Trump’s first term, Turkey hired the firm under a $1.5 million contract. The cooperation reportedly focused on the sanctions-evasion case involving Turkey’s state-owned Halkbank, charges that the Trump administration’s Department of Justice dropped several months ago, in 2026.

It was one of Ballard Partners’ first major contracts after the establishment of its Washington office. Since then, its trajectory has been upward: in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the company’s lobbying revenue from the federal government exceeded $30 million.

Two names who have worked for Ballard Partners are enough to illustrate its close ties to the Trump circle: Susan Wiles, currently White House chief of staff, worked with the firm, as did Pam Bondi, the former attorney general.

This time, the contracting party is specifically Turkey’s Ministry of Defense, rather than the Turkish government in general.

It should be recalled that Turkey has always sought to rejoin the F-35 fighter aircraft program, from which it was excluded in 2019 after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air-defense system.

There are numerous scenarios for resolving the issue surrounding Turkey and reopening the path to the F-35s. Among other options, Ankara could sell the S-400s to a third country, possibly the United Arab Emirates. Ankara is also seeking the six F-35s that were built for Turkey but have remained in storage in the United States for years.

The team working for Turkey

The documents show that the Ballard Partners team handling Turkey includes former Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida, who co-founded the Congressional Caucus for U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans in 2001. Wexler is also president of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace in Washington and is known for his ties to pro-Israel circles.

Another member of the team is Thomas Boodry, who served as a special assistant to Trump and as senior director for legislative affairs at the National Security Council until April 2025.

Boodry was dismissed as part of the removal of former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Trump fired Boodry and five other officials shortly after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who had presented opposition research claiming that several members of the staff were not loyal to President Trump.

Another member is Seel Lukis, a senior partner at Ballard Partners and one of Ballard’s closest associates.