U.S. diplomat accuses Turkey of threatening NATO’s security

A South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet takes off from the runway during the "Vigilant Storm" US-South Korea joint aerial drill at Gunsan Air Base, Gunsan, South Korea, Oct. 31, 2022 – South Korean Defense Ministry
A South Korean Air Force F-35A fighter jet takes off from the runway during the "Vigilant Storm" US-South Korea joint aerial drill at Gunsan Air Base, Gunsan, South Korea, Oct. 31, 2022 – South Korean Defense Ministry

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A U.S. official accused Turkey on Monday of threatening NATO’s security with its purchase of a Russian air defense platform.

Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said that her country will only allow Turkey to return to the F-35 fighter jet program if it agrees to ditch Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.

The U.S. may lift sanctions on Turkey if it is more amenable, Nuland told CNN Turk.

Turkey would be brought in from the cold on the F-35 project if it resolved the spat. Turkey was booted from the program in 2019 after getting the S-400 from Russia.

If the S-400 issue was solved, the U.S. would welcome Turkey back into the F-35 conversation and the CAATSA issue would end, Nuland added.

It remains unclear whether Ankara will accept Nuland’s offer to walk away from the Russian air defense system.

By Emma Jamal