AS Turkiye ended its opposition to Sweden’s NATO membership, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced it is ready to discuss Ankara’s long-awaited desire to purchase forty F-16 jets from the United States— a move opposed by US lawmakers for several reasons including Erdogan’s resistance on Stockholm’s NATO bid.
In October 2021, Turkiye requested to buy 40 new Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets as well as 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes from the United States to upgrade its aging fleet.
The deal estimated at $20 billion was supported by the Biden administration.
Some lawmakers from the us congress however have opposed the f-16 sale due to Turkiye blocking Sweden’s NATO membership, its human rights record, and its relations with Greece, among other concerns.
Both sides rejected any suggestion that the f-16 sale was linked to Ankara’s approval of Sweden’s NATO accession.
The Greek government, on the other hand, is following closely the developments amid knowledge of Ankara’s long-awaited plan to purchase F-16 jets from the United States.
