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Pentagon Could Consider Allowing Turkey Back In F-35 Program If S-400 Is Completely Removed, Esper Says

By Matthew Beinart

Wednesday, August 28th, 2019

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Pentagon Could Consider Allowing Turkey Back In F-35 Program If S-400 Is Completely Removed, Esper Says

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford hold a press conference at the Pentagon on Aug. 28. 2019. Photo: Matthew Beinart.

The Secretary of Defense said Wednesday the Pentagon could consider allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program if Ankara agreed to completely remove the Russian-made S-400 air and missile defense system from the country. Secretary Mark Esper told reporters during a press briefing the U.S. would have to see evidence that Turkey was no longer in possession of the S-400, and would not include keeping the system inactive and out of the field. “It’s either the F-35 or the S-400.…

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