The US government has finally given the green light for the sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, a deal valued at $23 billion. This approval comes after Turkey, in a move causing prior delays, ratified Sweden’s entry into NATO. As part of the agreement, Turkey will also receive modernization kits for 79 of its existing F-16s.
Simultaneously, the US State Department informed Congress of its approval for the sale of 40 F-35 fighters to Greece, with a price tag of $8.6 billion. The delay in Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership had strained relations within the alliance, with Turkey expressing concerns about Sweden’s alleged support for Kurdish separatists.
The initial request for the F-16 jets was made in 2021, but progress was impeded until this week when Turkish MPs finally ratified Sweden’s NATO bid, and President Tayyip Erdogan provided the necessary final approval. Urging prompt action, US President Joe Biden emphasized the strategic importance of Turkey as a NATO bulwark in the Black Sea region, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stressed that his approval of the F-16 sale was contingent on Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership. However, he underscored the gravity of the decision, stating that improvements in Turkey’s human rights record and a more robust stance against Russia’s actions in Ukraine were crucial.
Hungary remains the sole NATO member yet to ratify Sweden’s accession, although recent signs suggest progress may be on the horizon. Notably, last year saw the US approving the transfer of American-made F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine, pending full training of Ukrainian pilots to operate them.