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U.S. Blocks F-35 Fighter Jet Transfer to Turkey
(Foreign Policy) Lara Seligman - President Trump has signed into law a defense bill that will hold up the transfer to Turkey of 100 F-35 fighter jets. Turkey planned to take possession of the jets over the next decade and become the third-largest operator of F-35s in the world. But its cancellation will also complicate matters for the U.S. Several key components of the jet are manufactured by Turkish companies, and the U.S. Defense Department estimates it will take two years to find and qualify new suppliers to replace the Turkish firms. Meanwhile, the main European hub for the F-35's engine repair and overhaul is in Eskisehir, Turkey. "Trump...did want to make things nice with Turkey, and he by all accounts invested personally in the relationship," said Aaron Stein, an expert on Turkey with the Atlantic Council. "Now that he feels like the Turks have reneged on an agreement that they reached with him [to free imprisoned American pastor Andrew Brunson], the U.S. position is now an ultimatum." Turkey also plans to purchase the sophisticated Russian-built S-400 missile system. Officials say integration of the S-400 with the F-35 and NATO air defenses could compromise closely guarded U.S. and allied military secrets.