OMM Newsroom
Turkey is continuing talks with Washington over six F-35 fighter jets produced for the country but not delivered. Ankara is also seeking the removal of US sanctions on its defense industry.
A spokesperson for Turkey’s Defense Ministry said at a weekly news conference on Thursday that Ankara hoped the talks on the aircraft would produce a positive outcome. Contacts with US officials over delivery of the six F-35s made for Turkey are ongoing, the spokesperson said.
The aircraft have remained in the United States since Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019. Ankara has also called on Washington to lift sanctions imposed on Turkey’s defense industry under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Turkey’s Defense Ministry expressed optimism that the dispute between the two NATO allies would be resolved soon in a way that serves the interests of both sides.
Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu, Turkey’s deputy defense minister, said on Wednesday that Ankara was holding “intensive” discussions with Washington on the issue. The dispute has affected defense ties between the two countries for several years.
How the F-35 dispute began
The dispute began after Turkey acquired Russia’s S-400 air defense system in 2019. Washington says the system could pose a threat to sensitive technology in NATO aircraft.
Turkey joined the US-led F-35 program in 2002 and initially planned to buy 100 aircraft. Ankara says it has paid about $1.4 billion toward the program to date.
After Turkey acquired the S-400s, the United States removed it from the multinational fighter jet project in 2019 and imposed sanctions on Turkey’s defense industry in 2020.
The talks are taking place as Turkey seeks to modernize its air force and expand domestic fighter production. Those plans include development of the fifth-generation KAAN fighter.
Defense agreement between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Thursday’s briefing also addressed the Joint Defense Agreement of Mecca, signed by Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in August. The agreement was signed as Houthi attacks on Saudi territory increased.
Turkey’s Defense Ministry stressed that deploying Turkish military personnel under the agreement would require parliamentary approval and the relevant legal authorization. The scope of any military assistance would depend on Saudi Arabia’s operational needs and agreements reached among the three countries.
On Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the agreement would be submitted to parliament for ratification “in the coming days.”
