Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Pentagon Nominee Regrets Turkey's 'Drift' From West
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
July 17, 2019

Share

WASHINGTON — Army Secretary Mark Esper, President Donald Trump’s nominee to become secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday he is troubled by Turkey’s decision to defy the United States by acquiring Russian-made air defenses.
“It is very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past several years,” Esper said, citing the Turkish government’s purchase of the S-400 air defense system that the Trump administration has said is likely to trigger U.S. economic sanctions and jeopardize Turkey’s role in the NATO alliance, whose primary adversary is Russia.
At the White House, Trump took a more conciliatory approach to Turkey, asserting that it chose to buy from Russia because the Obama administrations refused to sell the Patriot air defense system “under any circumstance.” In fact, talks between the U.S. and Turkey on a potential Patriot deal during the Obama years faltered on Turkey’s insistence on technology transfer rights that would have allowed it eventually to make the missiles themselves. This ran afoul of the U.S. manufacturer’s propriety interests in addition to any national security concerns.
Turkey began taking delivery of S-400 components in recent days, but the Trump administration has yet to fully explain its intended response. Trump told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. would not sell the F-35 to Turkey, but he did not address other aspects of the issue, such as the expected removal of Turkey as a supplier of F-35 components.

Turkey Has Already Taken Delivery of Four F-35s

“We are now telling Turkey that because you have been forced to buy another missile system we’re not going to sell you the F-35,” Trump said. Pentagon officials have said Turkey was offered favorable terms to buy a U.S.-made air defense system, the Patriot, but turned it down in favor of the Russian system despite strong U.S. objections.

“We are now telling Turkey that because you have been forced to buy another missile system we’re not going to sell you the F-35.” — President Donald Trump
The Pentagon has repeatedly said the S-400 purchase would mean Turkey’s indefinite suspension, and potentially its permanent removal, from the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter program as a supplier of numerous components. It also has suspended a program of F-35 flight training for Turkish student pilots and instructor pilots at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and given those personnel a July 31 deadline to leave the United States.
The U.S. governmen’ts concern is that the S-400 could be used by Turkey to gather data on the capabilities of the F-35, and that the information could end up in Russian hands.
Asked about Turkey’s S-400 decision, Esper told the committee it was “the wrong one, and it’s disappointing.”
Later he went further, saying that although Turkey has long been a reliable NATO ally, it is now headed in the wrong direction. He said he recently told Turkey’s defense minister, “You can either have the S-400 or you can have the F-35. You cannot have both. Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capabilities of the F-35.”
Turkey has already taken delivery of four F-35s. They are at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Turkish military personnel are undergoing pilot training. The Pentagon has given those Turks until July 31 to leave the United States, saying the S-400 deal means Turkey’s involvement in the F-35 program will be brought to a conclusion.

The Administration Plans to Brief Lawmakers Soon on a Plan

Esper also told the committee he believes the United States should pursue diplomatic solutions to its differences with Iran and avoid war.
“I agree we do not want war with Iran,” he said. “We are not seeking war with Iran. We need to get back on the diplomatic channel.”

“I agree we do not want war with Iran. We are not seeking war with Iran. We need to get back on the diplomatic channel.” — Army Secretary Mark Esper
Esper said the administration plans to brief lawmakers soon on a plan for working with other countries to more closely monitor commercial shipping in and around the Persian Gulf. He said this plan, which he called “Operation Sentinel,” is intended to deter Iran from impeding navigation in the Gulf and avoid Iranian miscalculations.
Testifying a day after Trump submitted his nomination to the Senate, Esper faced a mostly friendly series of questions from members of the Armed Services Committee. One clear exception was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. She indicated she does not intend to vote for Esper’s confirmation, citing what she called his unwillingness to commit to avoiding potential conflicts of interest with his former employer, Raytheon Co., which is a major defense contractor.
“You should not be confirmed as secretary of defense,” Warren said.
The Republican-led Senate is expected to attempt to get Esper confirmed as early as Thursday, ending seven months of leadership uncertainty at the Pentagon. There has been no Senate-confirmed defense secretary since Jim Mattis left last New Year’s Eve.

Esper Reverted to His Previous Position of Army Secretary

Mattis quit after a series of policy disputes with Trump, including the president’s announcement in December that he would withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria — a move he never executed.
Several members of the Armed Services Committee raised with Esper their concern that the Pentagon has suffered from a shortage of Senate-confirmed senior officials.
“I am concerned that the defense department is adrift in a way I have not seen in my whole time on Capitol Hill,” said Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who has served in the Congress since 1991.
Esper, a former Army officer, said he met with White House officials on Monday to discuss plans to fill open positions, which include the civilian leader of the Air Force. The Air Force has had an acting secretary since Heather Wilson departed in May.
Esper is one of three people who have served as acting defense secretary this year, following Mattis’ departure. The first was Patrick Shanahan, who was never nominated for the position and quit abruptly in June. Esper then took over as the acting secretary.
The moment Esper’s nomination was received by the Senate on Monday, he was required by law to step out of his role as acting defense secretary until he is confirmed as the permanent secretary. He reverted to his previous position of Army secretary.
Filling in for Esper pending his confirmation is Richard V. Spencer, who is now the third acting secretary of defense this year. Spencer has been the civilian leader of the Navy since August 2017, a position he would return to if, as expected, Esper wins Senate confirmation.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

DON'T MISS

Pakistan to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

DON'T MISS

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

DON'T MISS

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

DON'T MISS

Mahmoud Khalil Vows to Resume Pro-Palestinian Activism After Release From US Jail

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He Wants to Fund More Trade Schools. Just Not These.

DON'T MISS

Two Days of Terror: How the Minnesota Shooter Evaded Police and Got Caught

DON'T MISS

B-2 Bombers Moving to Guam Amid Middle East Tensions, US Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strike on Tehran Kills Bodyguard of Slain Hezbollah Chief

DON'T MISS

Bentley the Porch-Crasher Pup Hopes for a Forever Home

UP NEXT

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

UP NEXT

B-2 Bombers Moving to Guam Amid Middle East Tensions, US Officials Say

UP NEXT

Israeli Strike on Tehran Kills Bodyguard of Slain Hezbollah Chief

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

Voice of America Parent Terminates Over 600 More Staff in Likely Death Knell

UP NEXT

Trump Says He May Support Israel-Iran Ceasefire ‘Depending on Circumstances’

UP NEXT

Israel Tells UN Security Council “We Will Not Stop” Iran Attacks

UP NEXT

What Are the Nuclear Contamination Risks From Israel’s Attacks on Iran?

UP NEXT

US Court Lets Trump Keep Control of California National Guard for Now

UP NEXT

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

42 minutes ago

Mahmoud Khalil Vows to Resume Pro-Palestinian Activism After Release From US Jail

50 minutes ago

Trump Says He Wants to Fund More Trade Schools. Just Not These.

52 minutes ago

Two Days of Terror: How the Minnesota Shooter Evaded Police and Got Caught

57 minutes ago

B-2 Bombers Moving to Guam Amid Middle East Tensions, US Officials Say

59 minutes ago

Israeli Strike on Tehran Kills Bodyguard of Slain Hezbollah Chief

1 hour ago

Bentley the Porch-Crasher Pup Hopes for a Forever Home

5 hours ago

The Secret to Finding the Best Travel Bargains

7 hours ago

This Fresno Family Had Six Graduations, Ranging From Pre-K to High School

7 hours ago

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

7 hours ago

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have committed $1 million toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted...

31 minutes ago

Oct 24, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the centerfield plaza during media prior to game one of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images/File Photo
31 minutes ago

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

President Donald Trump talks to reporters upon his arrival at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
35 minutes ago

Pakistan to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. Vice President JD Vance greets U.S. Marines at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 20, 2025. (Reuters/Daniel Cole)
38 minutes ago

Vance, in Los Angeles, Says Troops Need to Stay, Blasts Newsom Over Immigration

A fragment falls through the sky after Israel's Iron Dome intercepted a missile launched from Iran towards Israel, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
42 minutes ago

Nuclear Diplomacy Stuck, Israel Says It Killed Top Iran Commander

Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil speaks to media after being released from immigration custody in Jena, Louisiana, U.S. June 20, 2025. (Reuters/Kathleen Flynn)
50 minutes ago

Mahmoud Khalil Vows to Resume Pro-Palestinian Activism After Release From US Jail

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor, testifies during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill, in Washington, May 15, 2025. The Job Corps program has long been the subject of debate, but it is now also a point of contention in the administration’s efforts to pull back the social safety net. (Al Drago/The New York Times)
53 minutes ago

Trump Says He Wants to Fund More Trade Schools. Just Not These.

Candles and flowers adorn a memorial outside the Minnesota State Capitol following the killing of Democratic state assemblywoman Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, in St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S., June 18, 2025. (Reuters/Tim Evans)
57 minutes ago

Two Days of Terror: How the Minnesota Shooter Evaded Police and Got Caught

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber takes off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam January 11, 2018. Picture taken January 11, 2018. (Reuters File)
59 minutes ago

B-2 Bombers Moving to Guam Amid Middle East Tensions, US Officials Say

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend