Türkiye activates plan for F-35 alternatives

Türkiye’s National Defense Committee Chairman Hulusi Akar recently announced a strategic shift in the country’s defense priorities. In a statement, Akar emphasized Türkiye’s move away from reliance on the F-35 fighter jets, highlighting a focused effort on leveraging domestic resources and international partnerships to fulfill defense needs.

During his visit to Kayseri Metropolitan Mayor Memduh Buyukkilic, Akar congratulated Buyukkilic on his success in the elections.

Akar asserted that Türkiye’s survival will face no lingering issues, expressing firm belief in this stance and a steadfast commitment to pursue their work with unwavering conviction.

In response to a journalist’s question about the F-35 fighter jets, Akar said: “We are working on the F-35 issue from another angle. Previously, there was a consortium with the Americans. Due to well-known reasons, they wanted Türkiye to exit the consortium. When we stated that we would not leave, they dissolved the consortium and exited themselves. Now, we have an account there that we are trying to settle. This is the first part. In the second part, we will not need the F-35, and we are working intensively to meet our needs by mobilizing both our local and national resources and collaborating with other friendly and allied countries. Therefore, it poses no problem for us.”