Turkey Sees No Issue With F-35 Deliveries Amid Speculation US May Halt Transfer - Minister

Ankara sees no problems associated with the US F-35 fighter jet deliveries it is receiving, despite the US Congress announcing earlier that it might suspend the deliveries because of Turkey's plans to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th December, 2018) Ankara sees no problems associated with the US F-35 fighter jet deliveries it is receiving, despite the US Congress announcing earlier that it might suspend the deliveries because of Turkey's plans to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday.

"Our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] discussed the issue of F-35s with [US President Donald] Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. Trump asked whether there were any problems. We said that besides purchasing these jets, we want to participate in their joint production. We do not see any problems with the deliveries of F-35 fighter jets. Nobody speaks about cancellation of the deal," Cavusoglu said in the air of TRT broadcaster.

US officials have warned that if Ankara goes ahead with its plans to purchase the S-400 systems, the United States could withhold the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey. In addition, the US Congress has passed legislation that would block the transfer of the jets.

Turkey intends to acquire at least 100 F-35 Lightining II jets. The purchase is made under the US-sponsored multinational F-35 development program, which Ankara joined in 2002.

The first two F-35 fighter jets were transferred at defense contractor Lockheed Martin's facility in Fort Worth, Texas in June. According to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, the United States will hand over two more F-35s in March 2019.