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
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
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

European countries waiting on US to approve F-16 training: Politico

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: POLITICO
  • 15 Jul 2023 08:46
3 Min Read

Politico says the training of Ukrainian pilots on the use of F-16s cannot begin until the US Department of State formally approves the request.

  • x
  • Politico
    US Air Force F-16 fighter jet on display during the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Monday, June 19, 2023 (AP)

US and European sources told Politico that several countries that vowed this week to train Ukrainian pilots on the use of American F-16 fighter jets are currently waiting for the United States to formally authorize the program.

During last week's NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, a coalition of 11 states led by Denmark and the Netherlands formally committed to training Ukrainians to fly F-16s and other fighter aircraft.

According to European officials, the training program is expected to begin in August in Denmark, and a training facility is set to be established in Romania.

Nonetheless, Politico indicated that the training cannot begin until the US Department of State formally approves the request to transfer instruction manuals, flight simulators, and other documents about the jets.

While US President Joe Biden has vowed to approve the program, the official request "is still being reviewed," the news website quoted Lt. Col. Garron Garn, a Pentagon spokesperson, as saying.

It is noteworthy that last month, Pentagon Spokesperson Patrick Ryder confirmed that Denmark officially requested permission to conduct F-16 training.

The news website pointed out that it is not uncommon for the United States' interagency procedure to authorize the transfer of sensitive military technology, especially fighter jets, to take time.

Related News

Supreme Court clears fast-track deportations to random third countries

China-US trade falls 10.4% in H1-2025 to $289.36 billion

This comes as senior Ukrainian officials indicated that Kiev is in urgent need of F-16s.

Speaking before the NATO summit in early July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chastised the West for delaying the training of Ukrainian pilots.

"I have the same questions as you do for our esteemed partners," he said in response to a question about the fighter jets' delivery dates.

"We have agreed, we have pressed, and we have a coalition of countries that are ready to start training for Ukrainian pilots. [But] there is no schedule for training missions, and they’re delaying it. I don’t know why they’re doing this," Zelensky added.

The Pentagon’s Joint Staff Director for Operations Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims II suggested on Thursday that the conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine were "not ideal" for using F-16 fighter jets at present given that Russia continues to possess air defense capabilities.

"The Russians still possess some air defense capability. They have air capability. And the number of F-16s that would be provided may not be perfect for what’s going on right now," Sims explained.

"As the future changes, that certainly will dictate how that is employed."

On his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia will consider the presence of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine sent from the West as a "nuclear" threat due to their capacity to carry atomic weapons.

Read more: Ukraine sold its sovereignty for Western money, weapons, Orban says

  • United States
  • F-16
  • US
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

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