WASHINGTON – The two NATO allies have disputed for months over Ankara’spurchase order for Russia’s S-400 air defence systems, which Washingtonclaims could pose a threat to US F-35 fighter jets.
The US took the decision to stop accepting any new Turkish pilots to theUS-based F-35 fighter jet training program, previously agreed on withTurkey.
Two unnamed US officials revealed the decision on F-35 jet training, notingthat chances for a policy reversal depended on Ankara.
The US officials said that the decision applied only to upcoming rounds ofTurkish pilots and maintenance crews that normally would have come to theUnited States.
A formal decision on halting the training of Turkish pilots and maintenancecrews at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, however, has not been made,Reuters reported citing officials.
It was reported than an F-35 U.S. military plane has crashed near theMarine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina. The possibility of areversal of the decision is open if Turkey alters its plans.
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According to the US military, cited by Reuters, four Turkish pilots arecurrently training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Two additionalTurkish pilots are at the US base working as instructors. Beyond those sixTurkish officers, there are an additional 20 Turkish aircraft maintenancepersonnel at the base undergoing training.
Meanwhile, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for European andNATO Policy Andrew Winternitz said on Thursday that if Turkey purchasedboth the S-400 and the F-35 for its armed forces, it could study ways touse the Russian defence system more effectively against US fifth-generationaircraft.
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said that Turkeymust back down and cancel plans to purchase the S-400. However, TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan remains committed to going through with thedeal.
Washington has reportedly given Ankara until the end of the first week ofJune to either abandon the S-400 deal with Russia or face penalties, whichwould include sanctions, removal from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet programand cancellation of the delivery of 100 F-35 jets.
