CNBC: Top US commander in Europe recommends not selling Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets to Turkey amid controversial Russian missile system deal
* Turkey is in the process of buying Russia’s S-400 missile system and America’s most expensive weapons system, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
* The S-400 missile system, which is equipped with eight launchers and 32 missiles, is capable of targeting stealth warplanes like the F-35 jet.
* "My best military advice would be that we don't then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with allies that are working with Russian systems, particularly air defense systems," Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of U.S. European Command, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
WASHINGTON — The United States should not follow through with a multi-billion dollar weapons sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, if Ankara takes delivery of an advanced Russian missile system, the top U.S. military commander for Europe told Congress on Tuesday.
"My best military advice would be that we don't then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with allies that are working with Russian systems, particularly air defense systems," Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, head of U.S. European Command, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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More News On The Top NATO Commander Saying The U.S. Should Not Sell F-35 Jets To Turkey
Top US general in Europe: Don’t give Turkey F-35 if they buy Russian system -- Defense News
Top general: US shouldn't deliver F-35s to Turkey if it buys Russian defense system -- The Hill
Turkey Can't Have Both F-35s and Russian Missile System, NATO Commander Says -- Defense Tech
U.S. should not sell F-35 jets to Turkey unless it drops Russian system: U.S. general -- Reuters
Russia could destroy the F-35 from within with a missile-defense sale to Turkey -- Business Insider
I fully agree. Being part of the Western Alliance (NATO), requires more than just a membership card -- Erdogan's choices have been very undemocratic, and even hostile to Western (NATO's) interests. They also knew in advance that there might be restrictions, i.e. if they were to buy S400s, they were warned they might not get the F35.
ReplyDeleteLet me give you an analogy. If you are a cop, and part of a police department, say the NYPD (New York Police Department), and you were involved in some shady, unlawful, undemocratic activities, it should be fair to restrict your access to super-weapons. It's not like having an F-35 is a right. Giving Turkey an F35 could increase risk to NATO members, as Turkey has been aligning more and more with Russia. It's Turkey that seems to abandon Western principles. Just think of all the people who were jailed - often in very dubious circumstances - when Erdogan was almost dethroned. He rounded up a lot of teachers too. It's these kind of things (human rights violations, mass torture and killings) that need to be fully and conclusively investigated before any such consequential deal can go ahead. And, as Erdogan is giving 0 access (what's there to hide?), it might take decades until we know what happened. But again, if Erdogan would cooperate and not partially blame the US for the coup, maybe things could ease up. But the onus is on him.
NATO is a hoax anyways. Erdogan has smartened up and realized that usa does what it want and NATO is just it's tool.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first combatant commander to come out arguing against the F-35 to Turkey. There will be others coming to the Hill saying the same thing. Mattis as I remember was still in favor of F-35 but he's gone. So far it was the political people arguing pro's and cons on F-35 although Pence made in clear at the Munich Security Conference the F-35 was dead to Turkey. But it has gone further now, the arguments are leaning towards ending the strategic relationship altogether between the US and Turkey.
ReplyDeleteAll because of a air to air missile system.