Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

Biden administration linking F-16 sale to Sweden NATO bid: Erdogan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 Sep 2023 20:47
3 Min Read

The Turkish President says Sweden should fulfill the duties necessary before the Turkish Parliament can ratify its NATO bid.

  • x
  • Erdogan
    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Joe Biden meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, on November 15, 2022 (AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated on Sunday that US President Joe Biden's administration has connected the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey with Ankara's approval of Stockholm's NATO membership bid, adding that this "seriously upsets" his country.

During a press conference after the G20 summit in the Indian capital New Delhi, Erdogan noted that he had a "pull-aside" meeting with Biden on the sidelines of the gathering and both leaders discussed the transfer of F-16s to Turkey.

According to the Turkish President, Biden linked the supply of F-16s to Turkey's ratification of Sweden's NATO application.

"I did have a pull-aside, informal conversation with President Biden and we did discuss F-16s. But when it comes to the F-16 aircraft, unfortunately, what they do is take this to Sweden [Sweden's accession to NATO]," Erdogan said.

"This approach seriously upsets us," he added.

In October 2021, Turkey, which had been a significant obstacle to Sweden's NATO aspirations, requested a $20 billion purchase of Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16s and around 80 modernization kits for its aircraft.

Following months of objections, Erdogan agreed to forward Sweden's NATO bid to the Turkish parliament for ratification during a NATO summit in July. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later indicated that the F-16 transfer to Turkey would proceed in consultation with Congress. Nonetheless, the exact timing of this transaction and the Turkish parliament's approval of Sweden's NATO bid remain uncertain.

Related News

Trump to make historic second UK State visit at King's invitation

EU rallies allies as Trump tariff threats push trade tensions higher

Erdogan emphasized that just as Congress plays a role in the decision on F-16 sales to Turkey, the Turkish parliament is equally important in deciding on Sweden's NATO membership bid. He insisted that he cannot unilaterally approve Sweden's bid without parliamentary approval.

Turkey has accused Sweden of harboring militants hostile to Turkey, particularly members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union, and the United States.

Erdogan also called on Sweden to fulfill its promises, which include actions like extraditing PKK militants and preventing pro-PKK gatherings within Sweden, before Turkey can support Sweden's NATO bid.

Sweden "should fulfill the duties it has to fulfill," the Turkish leader stressed, adding that if it fails to do so, he would be "bound by resolution" coming from the Turkish parliament.

In response to Ankara's concerns, Stockholm passed legislation in June, criminalizing membership in a terrorist group or providing financial support to outlawed groups.

Sweden remains hopeful that Turkish lawmakers will approve its NATO application when they reconvene in October, as agreed upon during the July NATO summit.

Along with Finland, Sweden submitted its NATO application in May 2022, several months after the start of the war in Ukraine. While Finland became a member of the US-led military alliance in April 2023, Sweden's application is still pending ratification by Hungary, apart from Turkey.

Read more: US Senator still blocks F-16 sale to Turkey after accepting Sweden bid

  • United States
  • Turkey
  • Nato
  • F-16
  • US
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Sweden
  • Ankara
  • Stockholm
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS