Ankara says the agreement reaches beyond any single weapons platform, hinting at a broader effort to reshape its relationship with Washington.
Turkey has signed an agreement with a U.S. consulting firm as it seeks to strengthen dialogue with the United States in the areas of defense and security. The cooperation is intended to help Ankara present its interests more systematically to American partners.
During its weekly briefing, Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense said the agreement was part of a joint strategy to develop Turkish-American relations. Its key objective is to strengthen institutional contacts between the two sides.
This cooperation is the result of a joint strategy developed on a strictly professional basis to promote the development of relations between Turkey and the United States, strengthen institutional dialogue in the field of defense and security, and ensure that our country’s positions and priorities are properly conveyed to the relevant American partners
– said Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense
The Agreement Is Not Limited to a Single Defense Program
The consulting services contract was concluded between Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense and a company headquartered in the United States. The ministry emphasized that the procedure was conducted openly and in compliance with the legal requirements of Turkey and the United States.
The Turkish side also rejected interpretations suggesting that the contract is linked exclusively to a specific defense program or platform. The ministry noted that the scope of the agreement is much broader.
The contract, executed transparently and in accordance with the laws of both countries, is not limited to a single project or platform. Therefore, attempts to link this cooperation exclusively to a particular defense program do not reflect the actual scope of the agreement
– Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense stressed
The Issue of Turkey’s Return to the F-35 Program
Earlier, Erdoğan said that U.S. President Donald Trump had promised to return Turkey to the F-35 fighter jet program. Ankara expects that promise to be fulfilled.
The new contract with the consulting firm could become one of the tools for intensifying defense dialogue between Turkey and the United States, particularly on issues of strategic importance to bilateral relations.