Erdogan says Biden ready to sell F-16 jets to Turkey
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The Turkish President explains that Joe Biden, during a phone call, said he had a "positive approach" to the suggestion.
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US President Joe Biden, left, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands after a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, August 24, 2016. (AP)
According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, US President Joe Biden was optimistic about supplying F-16 fighter planes and modification kits to Turkey when they spoke over the phone. Still, he noted that Washington's primary concern was Sweden's NATO accession ambition.
Erdogan spoke after the Friday prayers in Istanbul, saying he told Biden the US needed to take immediate action to end the bloodshed in Gaza as he clarified that crimes against humanity were being perpetrated.
He explained that Biden, during the call, said he had a "positive approach" to the suggestion and detailed that he was "ready to make all sorts of proposals to Congress about this."
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet revealed on Monday, citing sources, that Turkey would approve Sweden's NATO membership if the United States sticks to its word of sending F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
Earlier in December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that Turkey had paid for US F-16 jets, however, they were being exported to Greece instead of Turkey.
Hurriyet reported that the reason for the aversion to sending the jets to Ankara was based on Washington's mistrust of Turkey, not Turkey's disapproval of Sweden's bid to join NATO. However, the lack of trust would be relinquished in return for Turkey's approval.
In April 2021, the United States debarred Turkey from the F-35 program because it acquired Russia's S-400 air defense systems. Later that year, Erdogan mentioned that the US proposed that Turkey purchase F-16 jets, which are one generation behind the F-35s. However, this deal required approval from the US Congress and faced strong opposition from many lawmakers.
The objection is primarily linked to Turkey's stance on Sweden's NATO bid. In July 2022, the US House of Representatives passed a defense budget amendment, preventing the sale of F-16s to Turkey as long as it continues violating Greece's airspace.
