Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara expected U.S. President Donald Trump to honour a pledge concerning the sale of F-35 fighter jets, years after Washington removed Turkey from the programme over its purchase of Russian air-defence systems.
“We expect Mr Trump to fulfil his promise regarding the F-35 aircraft,” Erdogan said in an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera, according to CNN Turk.
“He made us a promise on the F-35s, and fulfilling it is important for Turkey. We expect that promise to be kept,” he added.
The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey and removed it from the F-35 programme after Ankara acquired Russian S-400 air-defence systems in 2019. Washington has argued that the S-400 could compromise the security of the advanced fighter jet.
Trump said at a NATO summit in early July that Turkey would purchase F-35 aircraft from the United States, according to the report.
Erdogan also discussed a recently signed trilateral defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, describing it as an important message to the international community.
He said the agreement, signed in Mecca, had strengthened cooperation among the three countries and demonstrated their commitment to peace amid tensions between the United States and Iran.
“Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have taken their place as protectors of peace,” Erdogan said, adding that the three countries would continue pursuing a peace-oriented approach.
The interview coincided with the 25th anniversary of the founding of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP.