Foreign Ministry: Turkey's Exclusion from F-35 Program to Cause 'Irreparable Wounds'

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a written statement, denouncing the US decision to exclude Turkey from the F-35 program after it began to receive the equipment of the S-400 air defense systems from Russia.  

"This unilateral step contradicts with the spirit of alliance and does not rely on any legitimate justification," said the statement.

Calling Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 program "unfair," the ministry said the claim that the S-400 system would jeopardize the F-35s is "baseless."

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"The fact that our proposal to form a working group with the participation of NATO on this issue has been left unanswered, is the most obvious evidence of prejudice on the U.S. side and the lack of will to resolve the issue in good faith.

"The U.S. should display a commitment to its friendship with Turkey not only in rhetoric but through action and particularly in the fight against DAESH, PKK/PYD/YPG and FETÖ terrorist organizations.

"It is of great importance to maintain the understanding reached at the meeting between President Erdoğan and President Trump in Osaka, held in the margins of the G20 Summit.

"We call upon the United States to return from this mistake that will cause irreparable wounds in our strategic relations." (EKN/VK)