Erdogan Furious Over Trump's Weapon Offer to India: Why?

When US President Donald Trump met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, he offered India the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet, marking a significant moment in India-US defense relations. After the announcement, Trump told reporters, “We will expand military sales to India worth several billion dollars. We are also paving the way to provide the F-35 stealth fighter to India.”

The offer was widely seen as a sign of strengthening ties between the two nations. However, this key defense development could frustrate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Here's why.

Why Turkey Might Be Upset

Turkey had planned to buy at least 100 F-35A jets, but tensions arose after Ankara struck a deal with Moscow in 2017 to purchase the S-400 air defense system. This move led to Erdogan’s F-35 ambitions being dashed. In retaliation, Washington not only removed Turkey from the F-35 program but also imposed military sanctions on the country under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The reason behind these sanctions was Turkey's decision to buy the Russian-made S-400 system.

What makes this situation particularly frustrating for Turkey is the fact that India, which also purchased the S-400, did not face any sanctions from the US. In fact, Washington is now actively encouraging India to consider acquiring the F-35 fighter jets. This sharp contrast in how the US is dealing with Turkey and India is evident and likely to raise tensions in Ankara.