WASHINGTON, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The White House confirmed that, Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defence systems has led to the termination of Ankara’s involvement with the F-35 programme.
“Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defence systems, renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible,” the White House said in a statement.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry called the U.S. move a unilateral step, which might bring irreparable damage to bilateral relations.
“This unilateral move is not related to the alliance spirit, and has no legitimate foundations. It is unfair that Turkey, which is one of the US main partners on the F-35 programme, is excluded from it,” the ministry said.
“We are calling on the United States to abandon this mistake, which might cause irreparable damage to our strategic relations,” it said.
The Pentagon also announced that the United States will spend at least 500 million U.S. dollars, to shift the supply chain of Turkish-made F-35 fighter jet parts.
Turkey suppliers, which provide over 900 parts for F-35, would no longer receive nine billion dollars in projected work share, over the life of the programme, said Undersecretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, Ellen Lord, during a press briefing.
Turkey has ordered over 100 F-35 fighter jets, and a handful of them had been scheduled to be transported to Turkey in the coming months. The arrangement of the F-35 was still under discussion, according to Lord.
Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said that, no member of the alliance had raised the issue of Turkey’s exclusion from it, due to its purchases of the Russian S-400 missile systems.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry noted that, claims that S-400 threatened F-35 jets were groundless.
Washington still greatly values the strategic relationship with Turkey, saying U.S.-Turkey military-to-military relationship is strong and the two allies would continue to cooperate extensively.– NNN-AGENCIES
