While Turkey is an important NATO ally, Washington should not supply Ankara with F-35 fighter jets if it accepts Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, the top U.S. commander in Europe said Wednesday.
U.S. European Command (EUCOM) Commander Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, who is also NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, made the remarks while testifying at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee alongside Kathryn Wheelbarger, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
"I do believe that we shouldn’t provide F-35s if there is an S-400 in Turkey," Scaparrotti said.
He noted, however, that he is talking to Turkish officials every day on this issue.
"I know their leaders very well. Our intent is to maintain them as an important NATO ally into the future,” he added, referring to Turkey.