Turkey says Pentagon decision may ‘irreparably damage relations’ with US
Turkey is calling on the US to correct its mistake of removing the country from the F-35 fighter jet program, "which will irreparably damage relations", the foreign ministry said on July 17, according to Anadolu news agency report.
The unilateral move by the U.S. "neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate grounds," the ministry said in a statement.
"It is unfair to remove Turkey, one of the main partners in the F-35 program,” it said, adding claims that the S-400 system will jeopardize sensitive information about F-35 technologies are not valid. "Being irresponsive to our proposal to form a working group which will also include NATO on this basis is a clear indication that the U.S. is biased and lacks the will to resolve the matter in good faith," the ministry said.
To remind, on July 17, the U.S. announced it is removing Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter program, following through on threats to do so over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air system.