"The F-35 is an international project and Turkey will take legal measures if any steps are taken to prevent the supply of the F-35," an official representative of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, stated, as quoted by the newspaper Sabah.
US F-35 deliveries to Turkey have reportedly been temporarily frozen due to the conflict over the latter's acquisition of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
READ MORE: US to Temporarily Freeze F-35 Transfers to Turkey Amid S-400 Row
The proposed amendment to the 2019 US defense policy bill concerning the supply of F-35 jets to Ankara specifies that the decision on the F-35 will be taken after the Pentagon delivers an assessment as to how canceling the delivery of the planes would impact relations between the two countries. Some of the measures, listed in the defense bill, have still not been approved by Congress.
READ MORE: Mattis Reportedly Slams Turkey's HR Record, Supports Delivery of F-35s
Ankara has blasted US efforts to disrupt the delivery of the F-35s, reminding Washington that Turkey has already paid Lockheed Martin for part of its order for 100 F-35s. Turkish officials repeatedly told Washington that the country has a right to self-defense and explained that it would buy NATO air defense systems if Ankara were to receive an appropriate offer.
