US-Turkey Hold Discussions On Ankara's Removal From F-35 Programme

Senior officials from the United States (US) and Turkey have held discussions regarding US’ decision to oust Turkey from the F-35 programme on July 17.

Turkey's Presidential Spokesman İbrahim Kalın had a phone conversation with US National Security Adviser John Bolton, said the statement by Turkey's presidential office.

Washington was up in arms over Ankara's $2.5 billion deal with Russia for S-400 air defence systems. The US claims it will be compromising with the security of the F-35 if Turkey has the S-400.

Turkey has reportedly pumped in $1.2 billion worth of investment in the F-35 programme and helps manufacture nearly 900 components of the Lockheed Martin aircraft.

Deliveries of the missile systems began on July 12, souring the relationship between the two allies. The relationship between Turkey and US will not follow healthy progress with the unilateral impositions, the statement said.

Kalın expressed Turkey's “discomfort” over US' decision, which he said is not compatible with the previous statements of the two leaders of countries.