Washington: Selling F16 aircraft to Türkiye is consistent with US and NATO interests
The US administration welcomed the Turkish Parliament’s approval of Sweden’s membership in NATO, noting that Ankara’s sale of F-16 aircraft is in line with the national security interests of the United States, Türkiye, and NATO allies.
A US official at the US National Security Council told Turkish Anadolu news agency that President Joe Biden supported from the beginning the modernization of Türkiye’s fleet of F16 aircraft.
He added, “This (selling the aircraft to Türkiye) will increase interoperability within NATO and is in the national interest of the United States”.
He added, “Congress has an important role in arms sales to foreign countries, and we are working with Congress to resolve this issue”.
In the same context, a US State Department spokesman told Anadolu that the United States welcomes the Turkish Parliament’s approval of Sweden’s membership in NATO, noting that Sweden’s membership will strengthen the alliance’s strength.
He added, “President Biden has long been open about supporting the modernization of Türkiye’s fleet of F16 aircraft, and this potential sale would support the national security interests of the United States, Türkiye, and all NATO allies”.
On Tuesday, the Turkish Parliament approved the draft law approving the protocol for Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The draft law was supported by 287 deputies out of 346 who participated in the vote, while 55 deputies rejected it, and 4 deputies abstained from voting.
