President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday dismissed reports about the U.S. Senate and Congress aiming to prohibit the transfer of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
In reply to questions after his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Erdoğan said: "You know the matter, it is completely at the disposal of the U.S. president once the bill passes. Mr. Trump has shown me the written statement he made during our discussion in Brussels and such a thing [prohibiting the transfer] is not in question.
"Currently, we have made $900 million of payment. Two of the jets have already been transferred to us there. Currently, our pilots are conducting their administrative flights in the U.S. We do not have any concerns regarding this at the moment," he said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis previously opposed a measure that seeks the removal of Turkey from the F-35 program. In a letter sent to the Senate and the House Foreign Affairs committees, Mattis voiced concerns about the defense budget, known as the National Defense Authorization Act.
Turkey has been part of the F-35 fighter jet program since 1999. The Turkish defense industry has taken an active role in the production of parts for the F-35, including Alp Aviation, AYESAS, Kale Aviation, Kale Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Aerospace Industries.
The U.S. Senate, however, overwhelmingly approved the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which includes an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of the jets, citing the purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia and the detaining of U.S. citizens as reasons.
The bill must now be reconciled with one already passed by the House of Representatives in May and a compromise measure must then be passed by both chambers and signed by President Donald Trump.
