Erdogan announces new condition for supporting Sweden's accession to NATO
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Photo: Getty Images)
Türkiye will ratify Sweden's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if the United States approves the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan stated that Türkiye's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Sweden's NATO membership application in New York last week.
He added that the U.S. administration links the sale of F-16s to Türkiye with ratifying Sweden's application.
The President of Türkiye stated that if the U.S. fulfills its promises, its parliament will also fulfill its promise, and the Turkish parliament will have the final say on Sweden's NATO membership.
Ankara requested F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits in October 2021. The potential deal, valued at $6 billion, includes selling 40 fighter jets and upgrade kits for 79 combat aircraft.
Sweden's NATO membership
Sweden applied for NATO membership last year. Since then, only Türkiye and Hungary have yet to ratify it.
In early July, Erdogan pledged that the Turkish parliament would approve Sweden's application in the autumn. He emphasized in September that "the sale of F-16s to Türkiye should be distinguished from the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership."
Yesterday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that there was no reason to rush the ratification of Sweden's NATO application.
