Washington is ready to discuss with Congress the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. This was stated on July 7 by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Douglas Jones during a briefing.
“Administration [США] already made her position. The administration supports Turkey’s modernization of its F-16 fleet and this sale. (The executive branch of government – Ed.) Expressed its readiness to work with Congress (on this issue – Ed.), ”he said.
Earlier, on June 30, US President Joe Biden said that this deal with Turkey is not a kind of payment for the fact that the country withdrew its objections to Sweden and Finland joining the North Atlantic Alliance. According to the American leader, he made it clear to the Turkish side that his intentions for the supply of F-16s have remained unchanged since December, when the corresponding offer was first made.
On June 1, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that negotiations between Turkey and the United States on the supply of American F-16 fighters to the republic were held in a positive manner. In order for NATO to be a strong military-political bloc, it is necessary that all its members be the same, he added.
Earlier, Turkey requested from the United States 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 80 Block 70 upgrade kits for aircraft in service with its Air Force. The desire to purchase these fighters in Turkey was announced after its exclusion from the fifth-generation F-35 fighter production program in connection with the acquisition of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) from Russia.
Before that, in March, Reuters reportedthat the United States was informally discussing with Turkey the possibility of transferring S-400 missile defense systems to Ukraine to “help it fight Russian forces.” Also, the United States may return Turkey to the program for the supply of American F-35 fighters.
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