Russia, Hamas, and China: Three reasons Turkey shouldn’t get the F-35

(Cameron McMillan, Bradley Bowman and Sinan Ciddi – Breaking Defense) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears eager to impress Washington and Brussels at the upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, with Ankara undertaking robust preparations and Turkish officials trumpeting Erdogan’s personal ties with President Donald Trump. Erdogan, no doubt, has many goals heading into the summit, including strengthening Turkey’s defense industrial base and championing its growing arms exports. Erdogan would also like to see Turkey readmitted to the F-35 fighter jet program. It appears the Turkish leader’s campaign is having an effect. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday from the oval office alongside Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte, Trump said he would “probably do something” to make Erdogan “very happy” in response to a question about whether the administration would allow Turkey to obtain the F-35. Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that the Pentagon was “reviewing” legal avenues to provide Turkey with the F-35, only for Trump to interject that “we will work it out.” – Russia, Hamas, and China: Three reasons Turkey shouldn’t get the F-35 – Breaking Defense