"They have to do whatever is necessary for the good sake of friendship and alliance,” Akar said, according to Turkey’s Hurriyet news. "We expect our allies to understand this as soon as possible and to cut aid and support, especially arms and ammunition.”
The Turkish defense minister said it would continue its cross-border operations against the YPG and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria until "the last terrorist is neutralized.”
Turkey is in negotiations with the US over the purchase of 40 new jet fighters and 80 modernization kits for its warplanes, which Akar said is heading in a positive direction, according to Hurriyet.
Military sales will need to be approved by the US Congress. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked for his US counterpart Joe Biden’s support in persuading US members of Congress to approve the sale during their meeting at the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rome in October 2021, Turkey’s Daily Sabah reported.
Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 joint project also remains among issues in Turkish-American relations. Ankara was dismissed from the project after it deployed Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2019.
Turkey seeks reimbursement of the $1.4 billion paid to the F-35 joint program, either through cash or through the sale of new F-16s, according to Hurriyet.
Akar said the issue will be discussed further in talks with the US in late January or early February.
Reporter's code: 50101