Turkey's Return to the F-35 Program is Essential for NATO's Security, Erdoğan

In an interview with Bloomberg, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for Turkey's inclusion in the F-35 fighter jet program, stating that this move would strengthen Turkish-American relations as well as bolster NATO's security, according to Ermenihaber.

“Receiving the F-35 aircraft that Turkey has already paid for and re-engaging in the program is crucial and necessary,” Erdoğan emphasized.

He also remarked that the decision to exclude Turkey from the F-35 program due to its acquisition of military technology from Russia was “unjust.” According to him, Donald Trump's reelection as President of the United States has created a new opportunity for Turkey and the U.S. to develop their relationship on more rational and constructive grounds.

Regarding the potential acquisition of F-16 Block military aircraft, the Turkish President noted that Ankara expects the conditions to align with the spirit of the NATO alliance, citing the procurement process of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft as an example.