Turkey on Tuesday responded to a U.S. letter sent by acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan on how Ankara would be pulled out of the F-35 fighter jet program unless it backpedaled on its deal with Russia to purchase the S-400 missile defense system.
Turkey’s “concern regarding the [U.S] approach and style which defies the spirit of alliance was underlined once more,” according to a statement released by the Defense Ministry.
“The significance of sustaining a dialogue based on mutual respect and friendship, and continuing efforts to find solutions to problems was emphasized.”
U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar remain in contact about Ankara's plans to buy a Russian air defence system, and may meet during NATO meetings in Brussels next week, NATO's commander told reporters.
U.S. General Tod Wolters said the military-to-military relationship between the United States and NATO remained "absolutely, positively solid," despite Washington's decision to cancel Turkey's purchase of F-35 stealth fighters if it proceeds with its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system.
"We won’t co-locate those two assets, the S-400 and the F-35," Wolters said at the Paris Airshow. "I know there'll be follow on dialogue to work on ... details between Minister Akar and Secretary Shanahan. As a matter of fact there may the opportunity to meet next week at the ministerials in NATO."
