The sale of American F-16 fighter jets to Turkey was approved by the US Congress, ending months of negotiations between Washington and Ankara, the US ambassador to Turkey announced today, quoted by Agence France-Presse, BTA writes.
“The decision (…) by Congress to approve Turkey’s acquisition of 40 F-16 aircraft and 79 upgrade kits is a major step forward,” Ambassador Jeff Flake said in a message posted by the US Embassy in Ankara on the X social network.
#AmbassadorFlake: “Congress’s decision this week to approve Turkey’s purchase of 40 new and 79 modernized F-16 aircraft is an important step forward. Turkey’s F-16 fleet is of vital importance for NATO’s power, and the Allies’ cooperation in the future. pic.twitter.com/4r8kPssQ5j
— US Embassy Turkey (@USEmbassyTurkey) February 11, 2024
On January 26, the US government gave its consent to this $23 billion sale, three days after Ankara ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The US Congress, which was notified the same day of the sale requested by Turkey, had a fifteen-day deadline to oppose it, which has now expired.
Before greenlighting the deal, the United States waited for Turkey’s instruments of ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO to be physically deposited in Washington.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who for twenty months blocked Sweden’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, had asked the US to approve the sale of F-16s to his country as a condition for ratifying Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Anadolu Agency notes that during the 15-day objection period that began after the State Department sent an official notification to Congress on January 26, the only objection was submitted by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, but it did not lead to any action. Thus, from the point of view of American law, there are no longer any obstacles to making the sale.
In October 2021, Turkey made a request to the US for the purchase of 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft, as well as 79 upgrade kits for the remaining aircraft.
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2024-02-11 14:33:00
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