Frontal conflict between Turkey and the US over the $1.4 billion initially given for the F-35 procurement. A while ago it became known that in a statement the Turkish president Erdogan said: "there were people who threatened us a lot about the S-400s. You will definitely give them back the S-400s. No, we won't. We bought the S-400s. They are in our pocket right now, but you keep your promise to us. What is that? Now we're talking about F-16s, we're asking you for them, but you're not giving them. You said F-35s, but you didn't keep your word. If you don't, there will be a cost."
Information from a Turkish website on a social network shows a terrible behind-the-scenes tension between the US and Turkey, regarding the large amount that the Turkish state has paid to the US for its participation in the F-35 program.
After the massive obstacles to the procurement of even F-16 VIPER fighter jets, the Turks are now unofficially threatening the US with confiscation of their assets in Turkish territory.
What the website information says
"Turkey has reportedly prepared a list of US assets that could be seized if Washington does not reimburse Ankara for the $1.4 billion it paid for the F-35s. The American law firm Arnold & Porter has reportedly informed (the White House) that Ankara has the right to offset the debt."
Also a Turkish official said that: "The US is waiting until the presidential election before making a decision on the amount of $1.4 paid for the undelivered F-35s. We will force them to make a decision in the coming weeks," it said.
We don't know if all this is real and materializing in the background, or just a Turkish flare, but Ankara is pressuring Washington in every way, since it is angry with the Greek air superiority in the Aegean.
The State Department has reached out to Congress about major arms deals for Turkey and Greece, but a prominent senator is strongly opposed to the Ankara sale. The Biden administration has informed Congress that it wants to discuss proposed major arms sales to Turkey and Greece, according to two US officials, but is already facing resistance on Capitol Hill to Ankara's request for new and upgraded F-16 fighter jets.
The $20 billion arms package for Turkey will include 40 new F-16 fighter jets and 79 upgrade kits to refurbish the country's existing fleet of aging F-16s.
Greece is asking to buy at least 30 F-35 fighter jets, the most advanced aircraft in the US arsenal. The Greek request is indisputable and very likely to be approved.
But while Turkey has been a NATO ally for more than 70 years, that package faces skepticism from members of Congress who are furious with the country's authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for, among other things, his violation of civil liberties and his refusal to so far to approve NATO membership. for Sweden and Finland.
The two hitherto neutral Nordic countries applied to join the military alliance after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is estimated that the US intends to give Ankara F-16 fighters, to at least match the Turkish funds for the F-35 program, but Ankara's blatantly provocative behavior finds "obstacles" in the Senate, while American public opinion is mad at this country.
Now if the Turks also threaten the Americans with confiscations, then everything will certainly become terribly difficult for any compromise.
