On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration formally announced to Congress its intention to roll with the $23 billion deal of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, taking a significant step toward achieving a long-delayed process that tested ties with Ankara.
The State Department sent the statement to advance the sale of 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s and nearly 80 modernisation kits to Turkey a day after Ankara concluded ratification of the NATO membership of Sweden, an action that became directly connected to the jet sales.
The Biden administration simultaneously extended the sale of 20 Lockheed F-35 stealth fighter jets to fellow NATO ally Greece, an $8.6-billion contract that Washington advanced as it attempts to strike a balance between two alliance members with a record of tense relations.
Istanbul first asked for the jets in October 2021. Still, Ankara’s delay in endorsing the ratification of Sweden’s NATO bid had been a significant barrier to winning congressional approval for the sale. Ankara has long sought to upgrade its F-16 fleet and made its ratification of Sweden’s membership contingent on the consent of the sale of the new planes.
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In the meantime, the Swedish government and defence forces warned Swedes about the chance of a Russian attack on the country.
Swedish citizens were requested to be on alert during a war with Russia. The warnings caused the public to panic and criticise the country’s leaders. Many people herded their way to the market to procure fuel and bundles of indispensable and crucial provisions, “crisis kits”.
Moreover, Blinken’s strategic arrangement was evident during his February 2023 visit to Turkey, where dialogues with Erdogan centred on the conditional sale of the F-16s. Erdogan’s request for the jets was explicit – they were a condition for his approval of Sweden’s NATO membership.
This stance provoked the US to use the fighter jets as a more direct bargaining instrument. The diplomatic endeavour attained momentum with Hakan Fidan’s position as Turkey’s foreign minister, known for his closer ties to Erdogan.
However, Following 20 months of uncertainty, the Turkish parliament approved Sweden’s NATO bid. Subsequently, U.S. President Joe Biden wrote a letter to critical congressional committee leaders, encouraging them to support the F-16 sale “without delay.”
The State Department’s Friday night announcement came only a day after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan issued his final sign-off on Sweden’s ratification and hours after the instrument of accession was given to Washington.
“My approval of Turkey’s request to purchase F-16 aircraft has been contingent on Turkish approval of Sweden’s NATO membership. But make no mistake: This was not a decision I came to lightly,” stated Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of four fundamental committees that need to approve arms transfers.
Turkey ought to urgently improve its human rights record, cooperate better on keeping Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine and support lower the temperature in the Middle East, Cardin expressed.
“My concerns have been strongly and consistently conveyed to the Biden administration as part of our ongoing engagement, and I am encouraged by the productive direction of their discussions with Turkish officials to address these issues,” he declared.
Leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees examine every major foreign arms sale. They regularly ask inquiries or raise concerns over human rights or diplomatic matters that can delay or stop such deals.
Following the transfer of the proper notification by the State Department, Congress has 15 days to oppose the sale, after which it is supposed to be final.
U.S. officials do not anticipate Congress to block either sale, despite criticism of Turkey by some members.
