“We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively,” he wrote on Truth Social.
This will be the first state visit of Erdogan to the US since 2019, the year Turkey was evicted from the F-35 program over buying the Russian air defense system S-400 despite repeated warnings from the US that such a move would invite Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) sanctions.
Sources suggest that Boeing and Lockheed Martin could be major beneficiaries of trade and military deals between the two countries.
On the military side, talks can proceed on the purchase of 40 F-16 Block 70 Viper fighter jets from the US, along with modernization kits for 79 existing F-16s. This package was approved in principle by the US Congress in 2024.
Separately, the F-35 fighter jet program may also be on the agenda during the Erdoğan-Trump meeting. Turkey was excluded from the program in 2019 due to the purchase of the S-400 air defense system. However, the Trump administration is reportedly open to reintroducing Türkiye to the program under limited conditions.
As per reports, Turkey is interested in buying 40 F-35 stealth fighter jets from the US.
While Turkey’s interest in buying the F-35s is not new, the possibility of Ankara’s reentry in the F-35 program has generated a heated debate among security experts, who are warning about its long-term repercussions on the balance of power in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean, and even on US and EU security in the region.
However, the most significant consequence could be that it sets the stage for the world’s first F-35 vs F-35 clash.
Despite being a NATO member, Turkey has in the last decade charted an independent foreign policy, often at odds with fellow NATO members, the US, the EU, and Israel.
While Turkey’s geopolitical interests often clash with all these countries, with Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, this clash of interests has the potential to turn into a real, physical war.
Among them, Israel is one of the US’s most significant non-NATO allies, Greece is a member of NATO, and Cyprus is an EU member.
Furthermore, Israel has a fleet of 45 F-35I Adir, a highly customized version of F-35 to suit the particular operational needs of Israel. Tel Aviv is slated to receive five more F-35s by next year, completing the initial order of 50 F-35s.
Additionally, last year, Israel signed a deal with the US to purchase 25 more F-35s, with the deliveries slated to begin in 2028.
Since October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks, Israel has attacked six countries in the Middle East, among them Palestine (Gaza), Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and lastly Qatar.
Speculation is rife that Turkey could be next on Israel’s firing line. Not only do Israel’s and Turkey’s interests clash in Syria and Cyprus, but Ankara has provided economic, diplomatic, operational, and ideological support to Hamas and has hosted senior Hamas figures for years.
Last week, Israel reportedly transferred a second Barak MX air defense system to Cyprus, which can engage aerial threats in the range of 150 km. Notably, the shortest distance between Cyprus and Turkey is just 85 km.
Effectively, through the Barak MX AD system, Israel can now monitor Turkish airspace and get real-time updates on Turkish activity.
“Israel, in coordination with Greece and Cyprus, must prepare a contingency operation for liberating the island’s north,” Gal wrote.
“Such an operation would neutralize Turkish reinforcement capabilities from the mainland, eliminate air-defense systems in northern Cyprus, destroy intelligence and command centres, and ultimately remove Turkish forces, restoring internationally recognized Cypriot sovereignty.”
1 comment:
It's like they read Ezekiel 38 and are following the script to a T
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