AT US Senator Robert Menendez warns he will veto F-16 sale to Turkey replied to Recep Tayyip Erdoganemphasizing that they are personal opinions and do not represent Washington as a wholen, but sending, at the same time, and the message that Turkey “has other options” if the purchase of fighter jets from the US does not bring success.

After a corresponding question from a journalist on the return flight from Azerbaijan, where he was on a visit, the President of Turkey said that on his own initiative Menendez’s disagreement can’t hurt the F-16 market, given that the climate in the US is positive.

“As you know, the F-16 procurement effort began last year and the process is ongoing as planned. In meetings with our Secretary of Defense, the US Secretary of Defense assured that support this market as an administration, as a ministry and militarily,” he initially said.

Therefore, Erdogan stressed, the statements of such senators as Robert Menendez this is a personal opinion and do not represent the position of the United States. In any case, according to him, the final decision will be made by Congress.

“Anyone can propose, but the bill must get through Congress, which is not the current atmosphere. So it’s not like one person is against it. On the other hand, the administration is already taking the necessary steps in a positive direction,” he said.

According to him, in the past he had positive meetings with representatives of the US Congress and the Senate.

“At those meetings, I saw senators who told me that they would meet with Menendez in person, and I saw that they did not agree with him. Now the question is how the Congress and the Senate will act. Currently, prognosis is positive“, he pointed out.

Indeed, for those senators who are on the side of Menendez, the President of Turkey said:Their relationship with Greece are also the subject of a separate study. Why are they so biased?

In addition to the United States, Erdogan claimed that NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenbergshe expressed impartiality against the US market F-16.

“[Ο Στόλτενμπεργκ] He said that the delivery of F-16s to Turkey is important not only for our country, but also for NATO, and the stronger Turkey, the higher NATO’s readiness,” he said.

Of course, Erdogan did not hesitate to emphasize that if the F-16 purchase plan does not materialize, Turkey may turn elsewhere.

“On the other hand, the global market is large, so there are different solutions. Of course, America is not our only choice. If necessary, we are discussing other alternatives outside the United States, as was done with the S-400. We have such alternatives at our disposal,” he concluded.

According to Milliet