Hakan Fidan's statement on F-16s and F-35s

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with members of the Turkish press in Washington, where he visited for the Strategic Mechanism meetings between the US and Turkey, and evaluated his contacts.

Fidan explained that in his meetings in Washington with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and members of Congress, they comprehensively discussed bilateral and regional issues, including the steps the US needs to take regarding its support for the YPG/PKK and FETÖ.

'NO ONE CAN STOP US FROM THIS'

Emphasizing that the US support for the YPG/PKK is not just limited to weapons, but also includes transferred capabilities, training provided, and the institutionalization created, which poses a threat to Turkey, Fidan stated: "The Republic of Turkey is fighting and will continue to fight against all threats and terror hubs that pose a threat to it, both within and outside its borders, within the framework of legitimate national and international law. No one can stop us from this."

Minister Fidan said, "We have stated that the fact that this process you have initiated temporarily has now turned into a permanence is the biggest obstacle to the progress of the strategic relationship between the two countries; this needs to end as soon as possible, and a solution must be found for it, otherwise the two countries carry the risk of a greater confrontation through the terrorist organization. This is not a matter in the interest of either country."

Fidan used the expression, "We once again underlined our dissatisfaction with their relationship with the YPG in Syria and what the strategic danger this creates between the two countries, between two NATO member partners, is."

Minister Fidan emphasized that he clearly conveyed to his interlocutors that FETÖ is still a threat and that there are steps the US needs to take in this regard.

'POSITIVE AGENDA' IN TURKISH-AMERICAN RELATIONS

Minister Fidan used the expression, "At the stage we have reached, there is an opportunity to move forward by opening a new page with a renewed psychology and a more positive agenda," and emphasized that Turkish-American relations have a long history and a reflex for solving problems.

Stating that there is a vision set forth to increase the trade volume between the US and Turkey from 30 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars, Minister Fidan expressed that they held discussions on how this goal could be achieved.

Fidan continued as follows;

"While managing the problems we are currently experiencing on one hand, it is also important to realize the opportunities where the two countries can discover the common potential and opportunities they can produce. This, of course, is a matter that brings with it a certain mental framework, diplomatic flexibility, and capability, and you know our President's vision on this matter; that is, we are demonstrating a will to advance our relations with our partners and friends as much as possible while firmly protecting our country's position."

F-16 AND F-35 STATEMENT

Noting that the political process regarding the F-16s has been completed and that the Biden administration demonstrated political will and informed Congress during this process, Fidan stated that the technical processes regarding the production and delivery of the aircraft have now begun.

Fidan stated, "The American administration demonstrated a will here and informed Congress on this matter. It also passed through Congress at the end of a certain process, and the process of forming a will was completed. What comes after this is actually a technical process. It is a process that will continue between the ministries of defense and the relevant firms."

Touching upon the F-35 issue, Fidan used the following expressions;

"Regarding the F-35, as you know, we were a part of this program, and later there was an unfair removal from it, under the pretext of S-400 issues. We still maintain our position; that is, there is a national payment we have made here, and there are aircraft we need to receive. Turkey is, of course, always ready to talk about and discuss these issues in an open-minded and transparent way. At the stage we have reached, we actually believe that we can discuss these issues from different perspectives. We think that America should also be open-minded on this matter; there are some exchanges of views."

News Source: AA