Erdoğan: Türkiye’s reentry into F-35 program crucial for NATO

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday reiterated that Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program was “unjust,” stressing that its reentry is key to NATO security.

Ankara was excluded from the U.S.-led multinational program in 2019 over its purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. Ever since, it has repeatedly called the move unfair and voiced hope that the sides could overcome the issue during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term.

Erdoğan raised the issue during the September meeting with Trump at the White House. Last week, Trump said the U.S. was “very seriously” considering the sale of F-35 jets to Türkiye.

With Trump’s return to office, an opportunity has emerged to move Türkiye-U.S. relations onto a more reasonable and constructive footing, Erdoğan said on Monday.

“Türkiye’s receipt of the F-35 aircraft for which it has already paid, and its reintegration into the program, are important and necessary” for better relations with the U.S. and NATO’s defense, he told Bloomberg News.

In late 2024, Ankara secured a $7 billion deal with Washington for 40 F-16 jets. But talks have reportedly been dogged by Turkish concerns about the price and desire to buy F-35s instead.

Erdoğan said Türkiye expects terms to be in line with the spirit of the NATO alliance, citing Ankara’s purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as an example.

In late October, Türkiye signed an agreement worth about 8 billion pounds ($10.76 billion) that covers 20 Eurofighters that will be bought from the United Kingdom.

Ankara also plans to purchase 12 secondhand Typhoons from Qatar and 12 others from Oman.

Despite boasting NATO’s second-largest army, Türkiye often faced arms embargoes in the past. That pushed it to significantly boost domestic capabilities and curb foreign dependence over the last two decades.

Today, it produces a wide range of vehicles and arms types domestically, including its own drones, missiles and naval vessels. It’s also developing its own fifth-generation fighter jet.

Named Kaan, the stealth fighter is sought to replace the Air Force Command’s aging F-16 fleet, which is planned to be phased out starting in the 2030s.

Halkbank case, energy

Among others, Erdoğan on Monday said Türkiye considers the U.S. case against Türkiye’s state-owned bank Halkbank to be misguided and is in talks to protect the lender from “facing unjust penalties.”

Halkbank was indicted in 2019 for allegedly helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions. The lender has pleaded not guilty.

“Our hope is to reach a fair outcome that is fully consistent with the law,” Erdoğan told Bloomberg.

On growing energy cooperation, Erdoğan said Türkiye has “significantly” increased its liquified natural gas (LNG) supplies from the U.S., which he says now holds “a prominent position” within the country’s supply chain.

Ramped-up purchases from the U.S. are part of Türkiye’s efforts to diversify its energy portfolio.

In the second half of last year, Turkish state gas importer BOTAŞ signed a series of long-term contracts for LNG, much of which is from the U.S., taking advantage of the large global LNG supply over the next few years. The U.S. became Türkiye’s fourth-largest gas supplier last year at about 5.5 billion cubic meters.

Officials have said Ankara plans U.S. infrastructure investment as part of efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy, and is also seeking to cooperate with the United States on nuclear energy, particularly the small modular reactors (SMRs).

“Türkiye’s position is very clear: we act in line with our national interests and our energy security,” Erdoğan said. “As a country that relies on imports for a substantial portion of its hydrocarbon requirements, we must pursue a cautious and balanced approach in all matters that may impact our energy security.”

Source: Daily Sabah