Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that he expects steps from the US Congress regarding the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, after he submitted a bill to the Turkish parliament to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO, Turkish media reported, quoted by BTA.
As president, I have done my part, but I also have certain expectations. I expect something from you. The US Congress must approve the sale of F-16s to Turkey and at the same time we will take the steps we expect, Erdogan told reporters on his way back from Qatar.
It is not yet clear if and when the US Congress will act on the plan. US President Joe Biden supports the sale, but there is still opposition in Congress.
Ankara wants to acquire 40 F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization kits worth about 6 billion dollars. However, US arms deliveries to Turkey have become a point of contention in the US after Ankara bought Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, which saw it removed from the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet program.
Ratification of Sweden’s NATO accession has been under consideration in the Turkish parliament since October, when Erdogan introduced the bill after months of opposition over what Ankara says is Stockholm’s support for groups it views as “terrorist”.
At the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, Turkey agreed to lift its veto on Sweden’s admission to NATO. Sweden has promised Turkey not to support organizations that Ankara considers terrorist.
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2023-12-06 14:55:00
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