ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday if theUnited States does not supply F-35 stealth warplanes to the Turkish AirForce, Ankara will satisfy its need for such warplanes “somewhere else”.

“As regards the F-35 jets, I have no concerns, this contract is legallybinding, it cannot be easily terminated. But if these jets are not suppliedto Turkey, we will satisfy our needs somewhere else,” Cavusoglu said,as quoted by the NTV broadcaster.

Secretary of the US Air Force Heather Wilson has said earlier thatWashington is hopeful it can resolve some operational problemsover Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system before sendingF-35 stealth fighters to the Turkish Air Force.

Yeni Safak media outlet reported days ago that Turkey may purchase Su-57jets if the United States blocks deliveries of F-35 planes becauseof Ankara’s decision to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Earlier in In April, Assistant Secretary of State for European and EurasianAffairs Wess Mitchell said Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 air defensesystem from Russia could negatively affect the delivery of the F-35 jetsto Ankara. In addition, a group of senators comprising both Republicans andDemocrats wants to block the supply of F-35s to Ankara due to the arrestof US Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is being tried on charges of aidingterrorist groups.

In December 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement to supply S-400air defense systems to Ankara. According to a statement by the Turkishdefense industry secretariat, two S-400 batteries will be operated andserviced by the Turkish military.