US to proceed with supplying F-16 jets to Turkey.
The United States to Proceed with Transfer of F-16 Jets to Turkey
The United States is set to move forward with its transfer of F-16 jets to Turkey, as announced by national security adviser Jake Sullivan. President Joe Biden has expressed his full support for the deal, with no reservations.
Speaking from Vilnius, Lithuania, ahead of the NATO summit, Sullivan emphasized that Biden has been clear in his backing of the transfer. The President will proceed with the agreement in consultation with Congress.
Turkey’s Request and Recent Developments
In October 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested to purchase billion worth of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 fighters. However, no deal was finalized before the Vilnius NATO summit, where other pressing concerns took center stage.
One of these concerns involved securing Sweden’s entry into the alliance, a priority shared by Biden, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, and other member nations. Sweden’s inclusion would bolster defensive capabilities in and around the Baltic Sea. However, Turkey had initially rejected Sweden’s admittance due to its belief that the Nordic country harbors Kurdish terrorists.
On Monday, Erdogan agreed to ratify Sweden’s entry, leading many to speculate that Biden’s willingness to provide F-16s to Turkey played a significant role in this change of stance.
Summit Priorities: Ukraine’s Path to Membership
Another key priority for the upcoming NATO summit is Ukraine’s desire to join the alliance. While Biden has stated that Ukraine is not yet ready for admission, Sullivan indicated that NATO allies will send a “united, positive signal” regarding Ukraine’s path toward membership.
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