Erdogan Says Turkey Ready to Turn to Russia if U.S. Blocks F-16 Sales

Turkey may turn to countries such as Russia if the United States does not follow through on a pledge to deliver F-16 fighter jets to the country’s air force, Erdogan said on Friday, in remarks that could increase Ankara-Washington tensions. NATO Turkey has applied to purchase 40 Blok 70 Viper F-16s and as many as 80 modernization kits for its existing F-16 fleet after purchasing Russian S-400 air defense missiles. The acquisition of the Russian weapons in 2019 prompted the United States to bar it from a program to develop and purchase the F-35 stealth fighter jet. Washington has also…