Erdoğan responds to US dispute over Russia's S-400 missile system
Photo: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye (Getty Images)
The team of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues to work on the issue of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Ankara acknowledges that this is the key obstacle to the country’s return to the F-35 fighter jet program, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense.
So far, Turkish authorities have neither confirmed nor denied rumors that Ankara plans to sell or transfer the Russian system to another party.
However, Erdoğan’s team is aware that without this step, they will not be able to return to the US F-35 fighter jet program.
"Multi-track work on the S-400 Long-Range Regional Air and Missile Defense Systems is underway. Concrete developments will be shared with the public when they occur," the Turkish Ministry of Defense states.
The US Congress has passed a law prohibiting any sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye as long as Ankara possesses the S-400 systems.
Officials in Washington have stated that the Russian system poses a threat to the security of US combat aircraft.
On July 11, media outlets reported that Erdoğan wants to get rid of the system to resolve the conflict with the US.
Despite this, there is a risk that such a move will not solve the problem as a whole. Senators believe that transferring or selling the Russian system will not alleviate security concerns.
Türkiye has proposed a truce to Ukraine and Russia in two areas.
Ankara is seeking the arrest of the Israeli Prime Minister through Interpol.
Erdoğan’s team made a high-profile statement following the NATO summit.
