19.02.2026 10:50
It was claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump pressured Saudi Arabia to withdraw from Turkey's KAAN fighter jet project and related arms purchases; Washington views this move as a way to maintain the dominance of American defense industry products in the region and to secure its military interests.
It is claimed that the U.S. Department of Defense believes Turkey's investment in the KAAN fighter jet would harm Western interests, citing that Saudi Arabia currently has a strong air fleet.
MARKET SHARES ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN
The Washington administration assesses that such a purchase would reduce demand for American defense industry products and weaken market share in the region.
"TRUMP WANTS TO PREVENT COOPERATION"
According to an analysis in Pentapostagma, the U.S. wants to prevent a potential cooperation in defense technology between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The report claims that Ankara's efforts to penetrate the European and Middle Eastern market with KAAN contradict Washington's military interests in the region.
"THE U.S. IS CONCERNED ABOUT STRENGTHENING RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA"
At the same time, it is known that the U.S. has strengthened its relationship with Riyadh through ongoing high-value arms sales and strategic agreements to keep Saudi Arabia as its traditionally largest defense supplier.
The Trump administration had previously announced that it would offer American defense equipment proposals exceeding one hundred billion dollars to the Saudi side.