US approves sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey

The United States on Friday finalized the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after Ankara ratified NATO membership for Sweden, the State Department said.

Turkey will receive 40 new F-16s and upgrades to 79 of the jets in its existing fleet, the State Department said in a press release.

As part of the US law, the State Department notified Congress of the arms deal, as well as a separate $8.6 billion (€7.9 billion) sale of 40 F-35 aircraft to Greece — Turkey's neighbor with which it shares a long and often tense history.

Why Turkey wants more F-16s

Bringing an end to a monthslong political tug-of-war, Turkish lawmakers voted on Tuesday to support Sweden's accession to the NATO military alliance.

The decision was finally sealed on Thursday evening with the publication of the so-called accession protocols in the Turkish Official Gazette.

NATO member Hungary still needs to give its approval for Sweden's bid to finally go through.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had linked his country's approval to fighter jet deliveries from the US, among other conditions.

The F-16, produced by US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced military aircraft in the world. It can be used for both air defense and attacking ground positions. It is also able to fly at very low altitudes and in different weather conditions.

Ukraine is also keen to get its hands on the fighter jets.

Congress airs concerns over Turkey

There have been reservations in the US Congress after a number of its members had repeatedly made it clear that they wanted to prevent the deal as long as Ankara was blocking Sweden's accession to NATO.

While the US government does not need lawmakers' approval to go ahead with the sale, Congress does have the power to block it.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Ben Cardin, said on Friday that he would permit the F-16 sale to Turkey but that it was "not a decision I came to lightly."

"My approval of Turkey's request to purchase F-16 aircrafts has been contingent on Turkish approval of Sweden's NATO membership," Cardin said.

Cardin pointed to other issues that gave him cause for concern, including Turkey's human rights record, its lacking cooperation in holding Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine and its involvement in tensions in the Middle East.

"My concerns have been strongly and consistently conveyed to the Biden administration as part of our ongoing engagement, and I am encouraged by the productive direction of their discussions with Turkish officials to address these issues," the lawmaker said.

dvv/ab ( AFP, dpa, Reuters)