US expecting Turkey to pass Sweden NATO bid before F-16 purchase
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Hurriyet newspaper notes that the US Department of State may officially notify Congress of the progress on the same day when Turkey ratifies Sweden's accession to NATO but Congress will have 30 days to block the process of the F-16 purchase.
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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg with Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom and Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a meeting at NATO HQ in Brussels, on November 28, 2023. (AP)
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet stated on Friday, citing a source in the White House, that the US is expecting Turkey to ratify Sweden's NATO accession before considering steps regarding the F-16 jet deal with Ankara.
This comes in response to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that any progress made by the US on the F-16 deal would be reflected in his parliament's consideration of Sweden's NATO accession.
The report noted that the US Department of State may officially notify Congress of the progress on the same day when Turkey ratifies Sweden's accession to NATO but Congress will have 30 days to block the process of the F-16 purchase.
Just last Friday, Erdogan said 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.
Read more: Turkey to approve Sweden's NATO bid if supplied with F-16 jets
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."
F-16 instead of F-35
Last month, a source in Turkey's parliament, the Grand National Assembly, confirmed to Sputnik that Sweden’s ratification process of NATO accession may be completed by the end of this year if no circumstances arise that affect the situation.
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 instead, 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 current objection is primarily linked to Turkey's stance on Sweden's NATO bid. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO last year, citing changes in the European security picture because of the Ukraine crisis. As Finland went on to become a member, Turkey, and Hungary stymied Sweden's bid, with Budapest citing grievances over Stockholm's criticism of Hungary's Prime Minister, and Ankara accusing Sweden of harboring what it considers Kurdish terrorists and, most recently, meddling in Turkish elections.
Erdogan stated that mere changes in Swedish law regarding terrorism are insufficient for Ankara to approve its NATO bid.
