On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated that he is currently undecided regarding the potential readmission of Turkey into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program. This comes after the country was expelled during Trump's first term in office. Trump noted, "I haven't totally made up my mind, but my inclination is to say, look, he's [Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] done everything, he's helped us in so many ways."
Background on Turkey's F-35 Exclusion
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, which raised concerns about the security of the stealth fighter jets. The U.S. government argued that the S-400 system could compromise the F-35's advanced technology.
The decision to expel Turkey was met with criticism from some allies who argued that cooperation with Turkey was essential for regional security. Since then, Turkey has expressed a strong desire to re-enter the program, emphasizing its commitment to NATO and its strategic partnership with the U.S.
Current Diplomatic Relations
As of now, U.S.-Turkey relations have shown signs of improvement, particularly following a series of high-level meetings between U.S. and Turkish officials. The discussions have focused on various issues, including military cooperation and economic partnerships.
