US President Joe Biden has initiated the formal notification process for the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to Turkey, following Ankara’s completion of Sweden’s NATO accession process.
In a letter to key Capitol Hill committees, Biden urged Congress to approve the $20 billion sale, emphasizing the importance of NATO interoperability.
Congress Awaits Erdogan’s Signature for Deal Scrutiny
The move comes after Turkey’s parliament ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid on Tuesday, overcoming a significant hurdle that had delayed the expansion of the Western military alliance for 20 months.
The White House, in a letter to Congress, pressed for swift approval of the F-16 sale and modernization kits to Turkey.
However, the Biden administration has not yet formally notified Congress of its plans for the sale.
Turkey’s delay in approving the ratification had been a major obstacle to securing congressional approval for the fighter jet deal, with lawmakers awaiting President Tayyip Erdogan’s signature on Sweden’s NATO membership.
The US State Department has also urged Ankara to finalize Sweden’s NATO ratification, requiring Erdogan’s signature and publication in Turkey’s Official Gazette.
While expressing support for modernizing Turkey’s F-16 fleet, the State Department did not provide an exact timeline for the formal notification process of the F-16 sale.
Turkey had requested the purchase of $20 billion worth of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits in October 2021.
The leaders of the US Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees, responsible for reviewing major foreign arms sales, are expected to scrutinize the deal.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed the need for assurances from both the Biden administration and Turkey, citing concerns about Erdogan’s actions in various geopolitical contexts.
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NATO Membership Challenges
The NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland, submitted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, faced delays due to objections from Turkey and Hungary.
While Finland’s membership was confirmed last year, Sweden’s bid was held up until Turkey’s recent ratification.
All NATO members must approve applications from countries seeking to join the alliance, and Turkey had raised objections related to its perceived support for groups it deems terrorists.
As the Biden administration navigates the complex process of arms sales and diplomatic negotiations, the fate of the F-16 deal with Turkey will be closely watched, with potential geopolitical implications in the broader context of NATO relations and regional stability.
