Turkey's F-35 Fighter Jet Program Crucial for NATO Security, Erdogan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that the country's re-integration into the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program will strengthen relations with Washington and enhance NATO's security.

Erdogan made this assertion during an interview with Bloomberg. He emphasized that by utilizing his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, he aims to restore the strained ties that have existed for nearly a decade due to Turkey's purchase of Russian air defense systems.

According to reports, the convergence of political priorities between Ankara and Washington, including defense, energy, and regional conflicts, is reshaping Turkey's NATO membership policy to balance its ties with Russia, which is one of its main trading partners.