President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was confident that Turkey would be readmitted to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program in line with “an agreement” with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports by Anadolu Agency.
When asked by reporters during his return flight from Azerbaijan about the F-35 delivery issue between Ankara and Washington, the Turkish president said that he expects gradual delivery of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey during Trump’s term, hoping the U.S. president will honor the agreement.
Erdogan also dismissed Greek concerns over the possible delivery of the stealth fighters, saying Turkey’s defense buildup does not pose a threat to its allies.
“Greece’s concerns about our defense steps are groundless and meaningless,” he said. “Turkey is not a threat to any country that does not threaten its security, interests or act with hostility.”
On defense matters, Erdogan pointed to the recent NATO summit’s decision to increase defense spending and said Greece’s concerns over Turkey’s initiatives are unfounded, emphasizing that these steps contribute to NATO’s collective security.
He underlined that Ankara poses no threat to any country that does not adopt a hostile stance or challenge its interests.
On the contrary, Erdogan said, Turkey is a reliable partner committed to peace, stability, and security in its region and globally.
