Turkey says expects positive outcome from F-16 talks with US
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Ankara says it is optimistic about a positive outcome from its F-16 talks with the United States.
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US-made F-16 fighter jets fly in the sky over Poland's capital in Warsaw, Poland, Aug. 15, 2023 (AP)
Ankara is being highly ambitious over the ongoing talks with Washington as it still hopes to acquire F-16 fighter jets from the country as it stands before a major juncture.
Turkey expects the F-16 talks with the United States to bring a positive outcome, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser, Akif Cagatay Kilic, said on Saturday.
"I don't think there will be any major obstacles, negotiations are underway," Kilic told the CNN Turk broadcaster in an interview.
The delivery of F-16 fighter jets was a topic of conversation during a phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden last month. The two leaders also addressed Sweden and Ukraine's applications for NATO membership.
The Turkish leader also criticized attempts to link Sweden's NATO membership to Turkey's request for F-16 procurement and praised Biden for supporting Ankara's demand for F-16 fighter jet shipments. That said, Biden strongly supported the F-16 sales to Turkey back in January.
Turkey even expressed anticipating a 'positive outcome' back in April, when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "In fact, there is no such thing as complete blocking. We know that the [Biden] administration is making sincere efforts. They are determined to provide Turkey with F-16s or kits required to modernize the existing Turkish aircraft. There are those who are against it in Congress, but we know, that the administration is making an effort regarding those who are against it. We also expect a positive outcome."
Turkey made a request to the United States to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets in a $20 billion deal in October 2021, but the agreement has been in limbo ever since amid multiple disputes between the two states.
Meanwhile, the US excluded Turkey from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased Russia's S-400 air defense systems.
