Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell warned Ankara that its deal with Russia to purchase S-400 Triumph air defense systems could have a negative impact on Washington’s delivery of F-35 fighters.
“Turkey will strike back at the US if Washington blocks the delivery of F-35 fighters to Turkey,” Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Turkish foreign minister said.
According to the Turkish foreign minister, the proposal of US lawmakers to temporarily stop the sale of weapons, including F-35 aircraft, was wrong, illogical and inconsistent. “Allies in the military alliance do not do that,” Cavusoglu said.
Recall that Ankara intends to purchase 116 units of US-produced F-35 fighters in the framework of the US-led mono-national program of joint strike fighters.