The Republican Party has set a condition for resuming F-35 sales to Turkey
The U.S. Republican Party has stated that Turkey will not be able to rejoin the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program until it renounces the Russian S-400 air defense systems. This position was articulated by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is considered one of U.S. President Donald Trump’s closest allies.
On the sidelines of the Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Graham emphasized that he has a positive view of Turkey and considers it one of NATO’s key allies. According to him, the country’s strategic geographic location and its status as a nation with a predominantly Muslim population make Turkey an important member of NATO.
“Turkey’s role in NATO is extremely important because of its geography; after all, you occupy a very strategic location. You are also a Muslim country, and that matters. There are billions of Muslims in the world, and having a NATO member with a Muslim-majority population makes the alliance stronger,” the senator said.
At the same time, he emphasized that there is significant resistance in the U.S. Congress to potentially lifting restrictions on the supply of modern fighter jets to Turkey. The main reason remains Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems.
“Therefore, the sale of the S-400s must be finalized, or the systems must be transferred to another country,” he noted.
This was reported by “European Truth” on July 7.
Today, July 7, the 36th NATO summit begins in Ankara and will last two days. Heads of state and government from all 32 Alliance countries, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will gather at the presidential complex.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that U.S. President Donald Trump was right to demand that allies increase their defense spending, and he also supported Trump’s policy toward Iran.
