Is Erdogan’s trust in Trump in the S-400/F-35 standoff misplaced?

Source:al Monitor Date:12May2019

The bottom line is that Turkey wants the S-400 and the F-35 and is seeking a formula that will enable it to have its cake and eat it too.

The only means it has in its arsenal to try to achieve this, though, appears to be its belief that the F-35 program will collapse without Turkey’s participation, and a belief that Trump will weigh in and deliver what Ankara wants.

Addressing the IDEF 19 International Defense Industry Fair Istanbul on April 30, Erdogan said, “Any F-35 project that excludes Turkey will be condemned to collapse totally.”

Shanahan’s remarks — which came after Erdogan spoke — show, however, that Erdogan is not getting through to Washington.

Is there a way out of this conflict?  Read

The S-400 Issue in U.S.-Turkey Relations is Leading to Disaster, But It Can be Stopped