U.S. approved sale of F-16 to Turkiye after Ankara ratified Sweden's entry into NATO
U.S. State Department approved the sale of F-16 to Turkiye (photo: GettyImages)
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye after Ankara ratified Sweden's NATO membership, according to the Washington Post.
The U.S. State Department has informed Congress of the approval for the sale of F-16 aircraft to Turkiye, valued at $23 billion, and the accompanying sale of advanced F-35 fighters to Greece, amounting to $8.6 billion.
This move came just hours after Turkiye ratified Sweden's NATO membership.
The sale to Ankara includes 40 new aircraft and equipment to upgrade 79 existing Turkish F-16 fighters. Greece will receive 40 units of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and corresponding equipment.
It is reported that the Biden administration simultaneously approved the sales to Turkiye and Greece, attempting to strike a balance between the two NATO members with a history of strained relations.
Problems with the acquisition of F-16 fighters in Turkiye
In July, National Security Advisor to the President of the U.S., Jake Sullivan, stated that the U.S. would approve the sale of F-16 fighters to Turkiye only after they agreed to Sweden's NATO membership.
Later, both Turkiye and the U.S. claimed that the approval of Sweden's NATO membership was not linked to the sale of F-16 fighters. Both parties denied any suggestions that the deal was a subject of negotiations between them.
Senators also opposed sending F-16 fighters to Turkiye due to concerns that Ankara might use the F-16s against NATO allies, particularly Greece.
