THE Biden administration authorized the sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye worth $23-B after Ankara ratified Sweden’s access to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Modernization kits for 79 existing Turkish F-16 fighter jets were also part of the deal.
Turkiye requested to buy the fighter jets from the United States in 2021 but the delay in ratifying Sweden’s NATO bid became a stumbling block.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously said that he anticipates the US Congress to take action before Ankara ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
The deal also includes 40 F-35 fighter jets to Greece worth $8.6-B.
