President Erdogan: Turkish-US defense relations have entered a new phase.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish-US defense relations have entered a new phase after his talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 36th NATO summit in Ankara.
In his closing speech at the NATO summit on Wednesday, Erdogan said that the F-35 fighter jet issue was one of the most important topics of his talks with Trump and that the US president has a positive view of Turkey’s request to return to the program.
He said: Trump has a positive view of the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. We hope that the world will see the US keep its promise.
The Turkish president added that Washington has lifted most of the defense-related restrictions against Ankara and that developing economic and defense relations between the two countries is in the interests of both sides.
Erdogan also said that Turkish-US defense cooperation could expand beyond fighter jets, and the two sides discussed joint steps in defense industries, including shipbuilding.
He said possible cooperation between the two countries could include frigates, submarines and corvettes. Erdogan also announced talks with Trump on the supply of F-110 engines for Turkey’s indigenous Kaan fighter jet, expressing hope that there would be no obstacles in this regard.
The Turkish president described his meeting with Trump as very productive and said that the US president left the talks satisfied.
