Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan quipped Ankara's status as a strategic partner of the United States (US) in NATO membership. This insinuation came after Washington's threat to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara became more intense.
"We say that the US is our strategic partner.As our strategic partner, the US should not say we have to knock on another door," Erdogan said.
Erdogan's comments were made at a local television station in response to US Senate efforts to pass a bill that would prevent Donald Trump's government from supplying F-35 jet fighters to Ankara.
"If we are strategic partners, if we are model partners, the US should (like that), legally do not blame us," Erdogan said, as quoted by Russia Today, Saturday (2/6/2018) night.
Turkey had originally ordered 100 US F-35 stealth fighter jets. In accordance with the initial agreement, two units of stealth aircraft that should be sent in 2019 later. However, the bill designed by US senators tried to block the jet fighters.
The reason Washington wants to block the sale of F-35 aircraft to Ankara is one of them because Turkey buys Russian S-400 missile defense system. Another reason is that Ankara holds US pastor Andrew Brunson. The priest was arrested on charges of involvement in a coup attempt in Turkey.
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