The United States and Turkey have been embroiled in a dispute over the sale of F-35 fighter jets and Russia’s S-400 air defense system. The U.S. has made it clear that it will only consider selling F-35s to Turkey if the country abandons the S-400s. This has led to a significant strain in the relations between the two countries.
In a recent development, the U.S. has signaled that it is open to holding talks with Turkey regarding the F-35s if the issue over the Russian air defenses is resolved. Victoria Nuland, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, has stated that Turkey can return to the F-35 consortium if the S-400 issue is resolved. This indicates a potential willingness on the part of the U.S. to consider reinstating Turkey in the F-35 program if it decides to give up the Russian S-400s.
Nuland’s statement comes as the U.S. continues to lay what has been described as a “stealth trap” to seal a multi-billion dollar F-35 deal with Turkey. The U.S. is keen on resolving the issue over the S-400s as it is in the interest of both countries to secure a deal for the advanced fighter jets. This move by the U.S. is seen as an attempt to entice Turkey to give up the S-400s in order to gain access to the F-35s.
The U.S. position on the F-35s is further underscored by a recent announcement that it is ready to welcome Turkey “back into the F-35 family” if the S-400 issue is resolved. This signals a potential thaw in the strained relations between the two NATO allies, indicating that there is room for dialogue and cooperation on the F-35s.
These developments have sparked speculation about the future of the F-35 program and Turkey’s role in it. The U.S.’s willingness to engage in talks and the possibility of Turkey returning to the F-35 consortium if the S-400 issue is resolved suggests a potential shift in the dynamics of the situation. It remains to be seen how Turkey will respond to these overtures and whether it will consider giving up the S-400s in exchange for access to the F-35s.
Overall, the U.S.’s recent signals regarding the F-35s and Turkey indicate a willingness to engage in dialogue and find a resolution to the ongoing dispute. The potential for Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program if it abandons the S-400s suggests that there may be a path to a compromise that is mutually beneficial for both countries. It is a situation that warrants close monitoring as it has implications for the future of both the F-35 program and the U.S.-Turkey relations.
