During an interview at the UN General Assembly in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear that Ankara will not succumb to pressure from the US Congress or any US officials regarding the F-16 sales.
When asked about US concerns regarding the sale, specifically the opposition expressed by the chair of the US Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, Bob Menendez, Erdogan criticized Menendez's "hostile approach" towards Turkey. He stated that Menendez is attempting to steer the conversation in a direction of his choosing, but Turkey will not engage in that.
Erdogan also highlighted that Menendez lacks a good understanding of Turkey and himself. In response to the reservation that the US-made fighter jets could be used against NATO ally Greece, Erdogan emphasized the longstanding friendship between Turkey and Greece, noting that they have never been adversaries and are scheduled to discuss the possibility of resuming talks between the two countries.
