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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Türkiye is engaged in ongoing talks with the United Kingdom and Germany over participation in the Eurofighter Typhoon jet program, describing recent developments as “positive.”
Speaking at a press conference following the NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan also addressed Türkiye’s long-standing dispute over the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program.
“We discussed the F-35 issue. We made a payment of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion for F-35s, and we saw that Mr. (Donald) Trump was well-intentioned about delivering them,” Erdogan told reporters.
Türkiye’s involvement in the F-35 program dates back to July 1999, when negotiations with the United States began. It formally joined the Joint Strike Fighter development initiative in 2002 as a Level III participant, the same tier as Canada, Norway, Denmark, and Australia.
Although Türkiye was later suspended from the program, Erdogan signaled Ankara’s continued interest in rejoining. Meanwhile, the country has pursued alternatives, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and its own fifth-generation indigenous fighter jet, KAAN.
On European defense industry integration, Erdogan said he stressed that allowing non-EU NATO members to participate would “serve the interests of all Europe.”
Erdogan said Türkiye led efforts at the NATO summit to ensure that official alliance documents call for lifting “all barriers to defense trade among allies, without exception.”
“We also made sure the declaration reflected our view that counterterrorism can only succeed through genuine solidarity among allies,” he added.
The Turkish president reaffirmed his country’s ongoing diplomatic push for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.
“I believe a window of opportunity has opened for a ceasefire and lasting peace,” Erdogan said.
He also welcomed the newly declared cease-fire between Iran and Israel, expressing hope that both sides would “fully comply with my friend (U.S. President Donald) Trump’s call unconditionally.”
Erdogan confirmed that Türkiye had been actively involved in diplomatic efforts since the onset of recent military hostilities between Israel and Iran, which he said posed “serious risks to the region.”
“Like all countries in the region, Israel’s security depends on the stability, peace, and prosperity of its neighbors,” Erdogan said. “Israel’s attacks have turned Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy into a catastrophe that no person with a conscience can ignore.”
He reiterated that Ankara believes “lasting solutions with Iran are only possible through diplomacy and dialogue,” emphasizing that the region is “full of examples showing that war and destruction lead nowhere.”
Erdogan concluded by expressing hope that the cease-fire will evolve into lasting calm.
“Everyone needs to shoulder responsibility to achieve peace in the Middle East,” he said.
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