Tension between U.S. and Turkey Escalates

Over the last few weeks, tensions between the United States and Turkey have been rising over Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. Now, Turkey is threatening to buy Russian fighter jets over the American F-35 jets.

In an interview with NTV television on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, "If the F-35s don’t work out, I will again have to procure the jets I need from elsewhere ... There are (Russian) SU-34, SU-57 and others. I will absolutely meet my needs from somewhere until I can produce it myself."​

Vice President Mike Pence threatened to expel Turkey from the join F-35 program if they went through with the S-400 purchase, The Daily Wire previously reported.

"We have made it clear that we will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries — weapons that threaten the very cohesion of this alliance," Pence said at a conference celebrating the 70th anniversary of NATO. "Turkey’s purchase of a 2.5 billion S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia poses great danger to NATO and to the strength of this alliance."