The United States has offered to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in exchange for Ankara’s investment in the F-35 program. This was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, quoted by Reuters.
It will be recalled that Turkey was removed from the program in question after purchasing S-400 air defense systems from Russia.
Earlier this month it became clear that Ankara has made a request to the United States for the purchase of 40 F-16 fighters manufactured by Lockheed Martin, as well as nearly 80 kits for the modernization of its current military aircraft.
Turkey is asking the United States for permission to buy 40 F-16s and 80 upgrade kits
The request is likely to encounter difficulties in the US Congress, there is bipartisan support for additional pressure on Ankara
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In 2019, Ankara had ordered more than 100 aircraft F-35, also produced by Lockheed Martin, but was excluded from the program, after acquiring Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
The decade-long partnership between NATO allies has gone through unprecedented turmoil in the last five years due to disagreements over policy in Syria, closer relationship of Ankara with Moscow, its naval ambitions in the Eastern Mediterranean, the US accusations against a state-owned Turkish bank and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Turkey.
It was expected that the request for new aircraft was likely to be difficult to obtain approval from the US Congress., where sentiment towards Turkey has deteriorated sharply in recent years, mainly due to the purchase of the S-400 and human rights problems.
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Erdogan wants good relations, but is disappointed with Biden and looks to Putin and Russia
The talks in New York are without the desired result, the talks in Sochi are expected
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The purchase of the S-400 from Ankara has sparked US sanctions. In December 2020, Washington blacklisted the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate, its chief Ismail Demir and three other officials.
Since then The United States has repeatedly warned Turkey not to buy more Russian weapons. But last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan explained that Ankara still intends to buy a second batch of S-400s from Russia, which could deepen the rift with Washington.
There is bipartisan support in the US Congressto encourage the administration of Biden to put extra pressure on Ankara, primarily because of the purchase of Russian weapons and its actions in the field of human rights.
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