Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said he’s working to persuade Turkey to drop plans to buy a Russian missile defense system, saying that would imperil prospects to sell the NATO ally the next-generation F-35 jet it’s helping to build.
“My position is that the S-400 and F-35 are incompatible — meaning that they don’t go together,” Shanahan said. “We want to find a solution that makes the F-35, for a strategic partner, a critical asset in their military,” he said of Turkey.
Asked what action the U.S. will take if Turkey — as its officials have repeatedly said — goes ahead and buys the sophisticated air defense system, Shanahan said “we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, but we are talking about making sure they have” U.S.-made Patriot air defenses. “That’s been the discussion I’ve been having.”
Pressed as to whether he’s seeing progress with Turkey on the issue, Shanahan said, “They’re a strategic partner and I think at the end of the day they’ll remain a strategic partner.”
