Erdoğan: Trump promised F-35s; Egypt may join defense pact

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has revealed he received a promise from former U.S. President Donald Trump concerning the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets. This comes as Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 air defense systems.

Erdoğan expressed optimism about the F-35 deal, stating he expects Trump's promise to be fulfilled. However, the path forward remains challenging due to strong opposition in the U.S. Congress and a 2020 law prohibiting the Pentagon from transferring F-35s to Turkey as long as it possesses the S-400s.

In other foreign policy developments, Erdoğan suggested that Egypt could potentially join the 'Mecca Agreement,' a collective defense pact signed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. He described the agreement as sending a strong message globally and indicated that Egypt's participation is an option for future expansion.

Regarding Turkey's relationship with the European Union, Erdoğan stated that the EU's accession for Turkey is no longer a priority for Ankara. He observed a lack of willingness from the EU and predicted that Europe would ultimately be the one to lose out from this dynamic.