Turkey is ready to discuss with the United States the return to the program of supplying American F-35 fighters, as Ankara considers its exclusion from it unfair. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Hakan Fidan, whose words are quoted by the Star newspaper.
“As for the F-35, as you know, we were part of this program, and then there was an unjustified exclusion from it. Turkey is always ready to discuss these issues widely and openly,” the diplomat noted. He also called on the White House to be more accommodating and exchange opinions.
Washington excluded Turkey from the F-35 fighter supply program after Ankara signed a contract with Russia to purchase the S-400 system. The US demanded that Turkey abandon the Russian systems in favor of the Patriot, but Ankara did not agree to this.
It is noted that the United States has already signed the fighter program with the remaining seven partners in the project – Canada, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, and Norway.
Yesterday it was reported that the latest US F-35 fighter was certified for carrying nuclear weapons.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Singapore stated that the United States is using the F-35 to search for Russia’s positions in Ukraine.
Article:
Turkey Open to Discuss Returning to F-35 Program with the United States
Ankara, Turkey – In a recent statement, Turkey expressed its willingness to engage in discussions with the United States regarding the return to the program of supplying American F-35 fighters. The exclusion of Turkey from the program has been deemed unfair by Ankara, and the country is eager to address this issue openly and comprehensively. Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, highlighted the need for the White House to be more receptive and engage in a constructive exchange of opinions.
The decision to exclude Turkey from the F-35 fighter supply program was made by Washington after Ankara finalized a contract with Russia to procure the S-400 system. The United States had initially requested that Turkey opt for the Patriot system instead of the Russian one, but Ankara opted to proceed with the S-400. This disagreement resulted in Turkey’s exclusion from the program.
It is important to note that the United States has already signed the fighter program with its remaining partners, including Canada, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, and Norway.
Recent reports indicate that the US F-35 fighter has received certification for carrying nuclear weapons, further enhancing its capabilities.
Prior to this development, the Ministry of Defense of Singapore had accused the United States of utilizing the F-35 to gather intelligence on Russia’s positions in Ukraine.
While the Turkish government is actively seeking a resolution to its exclusion from the F-35 program, the decision made by the United States remains a contentious issue. The implications of this decision on the broader geopolitical landscape and the future of US-Turkey relations are yet to be fully understood.
