Türkiye says talks with Washington are continuing over six F-35 fighter jets it purchased but never received, as Ankara pushes for the lifting of U.S. sanctions on its defence industry.
The Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday that it expects a “positive” outcome from negotiations over the aircraft, which have remained in the U.S. since Türkiye was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019.
“Our contacts with U.S. authorities regarding the delivery of six F-35 fighter jets produced for our country are continuing,” a ministry spokesman said at a weekly press briefing.
Ankara also renewed its call for Washington to lift sanctions imposed on Türkiye's defence industry under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The ministry expressed optimism that the dispute could soon be resolved in the mutual interests of the two NATO allies.
On Wednesday, Deputy Defence Minister Alpaslan Kavaklıoğlu said Ankara was holding “intensive” discussions with Washington over the issue, which has strained bilateral defence ties for several years.
The dispute began with Türkiye's 2019 purchase of Russia's S-400 air defence system, which Washington argues could compromise sensitive NATO aircraft technology.
Türkiye joined the U.S.-led F-35 programme in 2002 and had originally planned to purchase 100 aircraft.
According to Ankara, it has already paid approximately $1.4 billion towards the programme.
The purchase prompted Washington to remove Türkiye from the multinational fighter jet project in 2019, followed by sanctions on its defence industry in 2020.
The renewed talks come as Ankara seeks to modernise its air force and expand domestic fighter jet production, including the development of its fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft.
Thursday's briefing also covered the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed in August by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, against a backdrop of escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
The ministry stressed that any deployment of Turkish troops under the agreement would require parliamentary approval and the necessary legal authorisation.
It added that the extent of any military assistance would depend on Saudi Arabia's operational needs and agreements between the three countries.
On Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the pact would be submitted to parliament for ratification “in coming days.”
Türkiye says talks with Washington are continuing over six F-35 fighter jets it purchased but never received, as Ankara pushes for the lifting...
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions wi...
Satellite restrictions affecting Ukraine's military have put SpaceX's Starshield network under scrutiny, raising questions about who contro...
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Uzbekistan's freight volumes along the Middle Corridor have doubled in five years, highlighting the growing importance of Azerbaijan and the Port of Baku as key links in its trade routes to Europe.
Kazakhstan is considering new rules governing the use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms, including requirements to label AI-generated content. The proposal was discussed at the tenth Astana Media Week, which also focused on digital threats and children's online safety.
Azerbaijan has taken over the chairmanship of a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) labour and social protection council, as it prepares to introduce a sixth package of social reforms in 2027.
At least 32 children and one teacher were killed when a school roof collapsed during classes in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Thursday (15 October). Twenty others were injured, while authorities warned the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued.
Georgia is seeking closer economic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as it looks to strengthen its position as a key trade link between Central Asia and Europe amid growing competition over transport routes connecting the two regions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment