The United States is seriously considering suspending training for Turkish pilots on advanced F-35 fighter jets as Ankara moves ahead with plans to purchase a Russian missile defense system despite objections from Washington, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The two NATO allies have argued for months over Turkey's order for the Russian S-400 defenses, which Washington says are incompatible with the Western alliance's defense network and would pose a threat to American F-35 stealth fighters which Turkey also plans to buy.
Turkey has received some of the F-35s they plan to buy, but the planes are still in the United States where the Turkish pilots are training on them.
But if we don't let the Turks take possession of the plane to fly them to Turkey, why train those Turkish pilots if Turkey has decided to be unworthy of them by buying S-400s from Russia and otherwise being a poor NATO ally that is playing too nicely with Russia? The Turks may try to convince Trump that the S-400 isn't a security challenge to America, but how do the Turks convince him that Erdogan isn't the real threat?
And how's that Russian relationship working out in Syria, anyway? Wait, you didn't think a Russian ceasefire in Idlib was anything more than a pause to resume the offensive under better conditions, did you?
Not that the jihadis in Idlib are worthy of our defense--the only good jihadi is a dead jihadi, as far as I'm concerned. I'm just pointing out that our foes see ceasefires as a tactic to achieve victory while we foolishly think of them as preludes to compromise and peace.
Anyway, maybe America and Turkey need to take a break in our relationship.
Also, more thoughts on post-S-400 Turkish relations with America.
UPDATE: Erdogan says there will be "no backtracking" on their S-400 purchase.
Okay then. Consequences must follow.
