Several members of the US Congress were reportedly in Turkey on Monday, where they encouraged officials to give up their bid to acquire the Russian-made S-400 missile system.
Ankara’s deal to purchase the advanced weapons has emerged as one of many flashpoints in its relationship with Washington, spurring US lawmakers to pass legislation delaying the delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
While lawmakers voiced concern that Russia could collect intelligence on F-35 technology through the S-400 systems, the Pentagon has been determined to keep Ankara in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Because of the JSF’s consortium model of production and maintenance, cutting Turkey out would cause production delays of up to two years, the defense department says.
Congress is currently reviewing a report from the Pentagon detailing the costs that would be incurred should Turkey be kicked out of the program.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, the three-member congressional delegation traveling to Turkey this week suggested that the F-35s would only be delivered if Ankara agreed not to purchase the Russian missile systems.
In response, Turkish officials urged cooperation in fighting the Gulen movement. The administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly called for Washington to extradite the movement’s leader, Fethullah Gulen, who is in exile in the United States for allegedly orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016.
If US can look after its national interests, so can Turkey.
US following cloak and dagger policy with Turkey. That apart, its power has started waning.Turkey is fully aware US is no longer a dependable country,what to talk of an ally
.
Either it is Russia or US missile system or F35 the motive is to keep the issues hot and destroy the Muslim countries in Middle East to safe guard the Israel ,now the needle has turn toward Iran and turkey wehave to wait and see whose number comes first .
The US can’t be trusted.
Please go to get Russian S-400
Ankara should consider partners that gives them equal status than bully like US
WE ARE LIVING WORST THEN COLD WAR ERA. OUR WORLD DIVIDED MORE POWER CENTERS & WE ARE FACING PROXY WARS & AMERICAN IMPERIALISM WANT TO DICTATE TURKY,IRAN ,NORTH KOREA & EUROPE TOO.
Donald Trump is last nail in US coffin
China, Cuba, Iran, and Pakistan has started following suits.
Iran?
Ali Khan simple and direct to the point lolz
Reymund Theus Salvatierra Interesting. How can they reverse engineer a missile system no one else possesses? Unless they travelled to the future and stole blue prints then came back with them ????????
Big lies and fake news from Mr Bedford
China
“The dream is over and wealth is transferring from the west to the east”? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! FYI, Russia is so broke that they just find it hard to maintain their antiquated armed forces! Stop spreading wrong information you troll! They will never be a match against western powers. NEVER. They only rely on espionage and copying and reverse engineering of technologies which they still cannot mass produce! Thats the fact!
Mr. Bedford,
Can you name a single civilised country that has been or is better off with Russia than with the U.S?
Stick to your guns you are better off with good relations with Russia than with the US as the American dream is over and wealth is transferring from the west to the east.