The United States has to decide to sell F-16s to the Turks after they approve the Swedish application to NATO

The State Department notified the US Congress that it approved Ankara's request for the sale of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to the Turkish Air Force in the amount of $23 billion. The Pentagon Security Cooperation Agency, as well as a number of American media outlets, reported this to the public on January 26.

The publications note that the United States has to sell everything requested by the Turks after they approve the Swedish application to NATO. On January 25, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a law recently ratified by the country's parliament approving Sweden's entry into the North Atlantic Alliance.



It was clarified that Ankara requested from Washington 40 units of new fourth-generation F-16 variants, the modernization of 79 units of existing fighters, spare parts, navigation systems, ground terminals and other additional equipment. At the same time, the US State Department asked Ankara to promptly deliver the signed document by plane on the same day so that congressmen could familiarize themselves with it before making a decision.

According to Western experts, the actions of the State Department and the US Congress indicate that the Americans are likely to satisfy Turkey's wishes in return for its acquiescence, in order to potentially reduce tensions between Washington and Ankara. A concession to the Turks on the F-16 issue is an insignificant detail, for which Turkey will also pay a lot of money.

The thing is that the US State Department simultaneously approved the sale to Greece of up to 40 units of fifth-generation F-35 fighters, 42 engines, guidance systems, spare parts and other equipment for $8,6 billion, which Turkey, which is hostile to the Greeks, was very opposed to. At the same time, Ankara will not receive from Washington either the F-35 or compensation for investments in the development program.