Türkiye asks US for F-16 jets amid NATO, Congress rows
Türkiye appealed to the United States to expedite F-16 jets, a sale some US officials hope could coax Ankara to lift objections to NATO expansion but is bitterly opposed by a key senator.
Meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he intended to discuss his country's request for modernised versions of the mainstay F-16 fighter jets.
"As we said together before, this is not only for Türkiye but also important for NATO and for the United States as well," Cavusoglu said.
"So we expect the approval in line with our joint strategic interests."
The United States is finalising a $20 billion package for Türkiye that is expected to include around 40 new F-16 fighter jets.
The sale would be simultaneous with a deal for top-of-the-line F-35 jets for Greece, Türkiye's historic rival with which tensions have risen sharply over a series of sea disputes.
The United States has been looking for ways to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to lift objections to allowing Sweden and Finland into NATO.
President Joe Biden has indicated support for selling F-16s to Türkiye. Blinken in his meeting called Türkiye a close ally and praised its role in negotiating with Ukraine and Russia to allow grain shipments from the key global breadbasket.
Türkiye in 2019 was kicked out of the F-35 program after Erdogan went ahead with a major arms purchase from Russia, the key adversary of NATO.
