Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

The United States has suspended its equipment supplies to Turkey related to American-build F-35 fighter jet, marking the first American step taken to block its jet’s equipment to the NATO ally in wake of Ankara’s planned purchase of Russian s-400 missile defence system.

According to Reuters news reports, the US officials told their Turkish counterparts that they will not be met with further shipments of F-35 aircraft equipment from the US, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

The Pentagon has confirmed the Reuters reports that it will no longer deliver any F-35 related equipment to Turkey.

In an official statement, a defence department spokesperson, Air Force Lt. Colonel Mike Andrews said, “Pending an unequivocal Turkish decision to forgo delivery of the S-400, deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey’s F-35 operational capability have been suspended.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declined to back off from a planned Russian deal to purchase S-400 defence system that US President Donald Trump has said would lead to the compromise of F-35 security.

However, Turkish officials were unable to immediately comment to a request, but the country has said it will initiate deliveries intaking of the S-400 from Russia in July.

Washington’s decision over F-35 equipment supplies to Turkey was likely to complicate Mevlut Cavusoglu’s, Turkish foreign minister, visit to Washington DC this week for a NATO summit.

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