01.10.2025 21:09
President Erdoğan, who attended the reception for the new legislative year at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, revealed a noteworthy detail from his recent conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time. Erdoğan stated, "I reminded Trump that we paid for the F-35 fighter jets; we will see what happens."
In his speech at the reception for the new legislative year in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), President Erdoğan stated regarding his meeting with U.S. President Trump, "I reminded Trump that we paid for the F-35 fighter jets, we will see what will happen."
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN AT THE TBMM RECEPTION
The 28th Term 4th Legislative Year of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has begun. A reception was held in the Assembly due to the new legislative year. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also attended the reception. In a brief statement to journalists, President Erdoğan revealed a detail for the first time about his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I REMINDED TRUMP THAT WE PAID FOR THE F-35 AIRCRAFT"
Erdoğan stated that he reminded Trump about the F-35 issue. President Erdoğan said, "I reminded Trump that we paid for the F-35 fighter jets, we will see what will happen."
ERDOĞAN-TRUMP MEETING
President Erdoğan had traveled to New York last week for the UN summit. Erdoğan and Trump had a meeting during the summit. The F-35 issue was also on the agenda at the summit, where topics such as the latest situation in Gaza and Syria were discussed.
THE PROCESS OF TURKEY'S REMOVAL FROM THE F-35 PROGRAM
Turkey, a NATO member, was officially removed from the F-35 program in 2021 after purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, which has a total cost of $2.5 billion in 2019.
The U.S. and NATO viewed Turkey's purchase of this system as a problem for defense integration within the alliance; they warned that the Russian S-400 system posed a threat to the alliance's defense and could collect intelligence related to the F-35s.
Due to this system purchased from Russia, Turkey faced sanctions under the law known as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).