New statement from Minister Fidan on CAATSA sanctions: I don't think there will be a problem

Speaking on a TRT Haber broadcast, Minister Fidan specifically addressed the ongoing discussions with the US regarding CAATSA and the F-35 program. Regarding the lifting of sanctions, Hakan Fidan stated, "From the very beginning, we have not wanted sanctions between allies in any way. These should not be political or administrative decisions. Turkey, with its leadership and parliament, has held this view from the start. As you know, there have been both undeclared and declared sanctions imposed on us for a long time in European capitals or in America. We have carried out very serious diplomatic efforts to systematically remove these. Thank God, I have said this on other occasions before; we have now moved past this being a problem in Europe.

"APPROPRIATE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN REGARDING CAATSA AND F-35S"

Issues that could be resolved through administrative decisions in America have also, thank God, ceased to be a problem. However, there are one or two issues tied to legislation. CAATSA is one of them. The issue regarding the F-35 is also one of them. Now, as long as this will exists, we, as ministries, are taking the appropriate steps to resolve these with both leaders. Hopefully, we will reach a result soon; in other words, I do not think there will be a problem with this."

"TURKEY HAS MADE A VERY SERIOUS CONTRIBUTION TO NATO"

Speaking about the NATO Summit, Fidan said, "When NATO makes decisions—this is also in human nature—it really likes to look at concrete results. Now, when it looks at the Russia-Ukraine war, it sees what is needed there. When it looks at the example of Turkey, it sees how these needs can be implemented. If Turkey is doing these things on its own, an alliance can certainly do them, and in fact, it should be able to; this thought has now become dominant. In other words, the fact that something has been implemented makes it easier to produce policy regarding it. In this respect, Turkey has also made a very serious contribution to NATO in terms of setting an example."

"THE CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION PERIOD FOR F-110 ENGINES HAS EXPIRED"

Minister Fidan also made the following remarks regarding the F-110 engines;

"Look, let me say this: especially in European parliaments, the political division in Turkey is being imported into European parliaments. Sometimes, a view that is in the opposition here can be in power in another European parliament or country. This can be truly very influential. We can see this not only in national parliaments but also in the European Union parliament.

Therefore, it is actually necessary to develop the ability to separate high strategy from domestic politics in certain places. It is also necessary to explain this to the other side with appropriate language, concepts, and strategies. There were other foreign policy bodies and issues, and we carried them out by consulting with them. In other words, the legal notification period for Congress regarding the F-110 engines expired as of yesterday; so, hopefully, we do not expect any negative outcome from here on out."