Trump Says US Wont Sell Jets to Turkey, Still Mulling Sanctions

The U.S. will not sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey because of the country’s recent purchase of Russian defense items, including S-400 missile parts, President Donald Trump said during a July 16 Cabinet meeting. But Trump did not say whether the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkey, adding that he has a “good relationship” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that Turkey was placed in a “very tough situation.” Trump said the U.S. is “speaking to Turkey.” “With all of that being said, we’re working through it,” Trump said. “We’ll see what happens."

In a July 17 statement, the White House said the U.S.-Turkey relationship remains strong. "Our military-to-military relationship is strong, and we will continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey," the White House said.

Trump’s comments came less than a week after R. Clarke Cooper, the State Department’s assistant secretary for political-military affairs, told the Senate that Turkey would face “consequences” if they followed through with the purchase (see 1907150039). On July 16, Mark Esper, the nominee to be the next secretary of defense, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Turkey’s decision was “the wrong one.” “It’s disappointing,” Esper said.

A House bill passed June 10 that called for sanctions on Turkey if the country followed through on its purchase of the Russian missile system. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Congress "has made it clear that there must be consequences" for Turkey's purchase. "We urge President Trump to fully implement sanctions as required by law under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act," the committee said in a July 12 press release.