Turkish defense minister discusses S-400 systems and F-35 program status

Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler discussed national security priorities in an interview with the newspaper Posta. Regarding the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, Guler stated that Turkey intends to maintain them for independent, autonomous use outside of NATO integrated systems. He described this as the most logical solution to meet Turkey's national security needs. Concurrently, Turkey continues negotiations with United States authorities to be reinstated in the F-35 fighter jet program. Guler argued that the inclusion of F-35s in the Turkish fleet would benefit both national security and regional stability. Additionally, the minister commented on Middle Eastern regional tensions, noting that Turkey is monitoring the situation between the United States, Israel, and Iran. While he acknowledged the potential for conflict with Israel, he characterized it as a distant possibility.