Biden administration throws support behind potential F-16 sale to Turkey & More News Here

A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter collaborating within the U.S.-led Saber Strike train flies over Estonia June 6, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

MADRID, June 29 (Reuters) – The Biden administration threw its support on Wednesday behind the potential sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, a day after Ankara lifted a veto of NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.

Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary for Defense for International Security Affairs at Pentagon, advised reporters on a name that sturdy Turkish protection capabilities would reinforce NATO’s defenses.

“The United States supports Turkey’s modernization of its fighter fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security,” she mentioned.

“These plans are in the works. And, they need to be worked through our contracting processes,” she added.

Turkey made a request in October to the United States to purchase 40 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighters and almost 80 modernization kits for its present warplanes.

Washington had not beforehand overtly expressed any opinion on the sale apart from saying all weapons gross sales would have to undergo the required authorized course of.

In March, the State Department wrote a letter to some members of the U.S. Congress who had opposed the sale, saying “appropriate” U.S. protection commerce ties with Turkey would serve U.S. pursuits. learn extra

Wallander’s feedback come on the heels of an eleventh hour deal struck on Tuesday between Turkey, Finland and Sweden after 4 hours of talks, averting an embarrassing deadlock on the gathering of 30 NATO leaders that goals to present resolve within the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. learn extra

U.S. President Joe Biden, talking earlier than his assembly with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid praised Erdogan’s efforts to assist strike a take care of the Nordic nations. “I want to particularly thank you for what you did,” Biden mentioned.

The three nations signed a deal below which Ankara lifted its block on Finnish and Swedish membership, whereas the candidates pledged not to support the Kurdish militant PKK and YPG teams, or the community of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey blames for a failed 2016 coup try.

U.S. officers pushed again in opposition to any suggestion that Washington was backing the warplane request to take away Turkish objections to the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO.

“The U.S. did not offer anything to Turkey and was not asked for anything by Turkey” as part of its agreement with Finland and Sweden, a senior administration official said.

The official said U.S. officials were engaged in ongoing technical talks about Turkey’s request to buy U.S. F-16 fighter jets. Congress would have the final say about any such sales.

Erdogan, earlier than departing for Madrid on Tuesday however after a telephone name with Biden, criticised the United States over the F-16 sale, saying it was stalling Ankara.

In his transient remarks earlier than his assembly with Biden, Erdogan didn’t carry up the F-16 problem however expressed his pleasure to meet Biden “after a protracted whereas.” Their assembly lasted about an hour.

The two leaders had final met in particular person in October 2021 and spoke on the telephone earlier this 12 months.

The sale of U.S. weapons to NATO ally Turkey became contentious after Ankara acquired Russian-made defense missile systems, triggering U.S. sanctions as well as Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program.

Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk
Editing by Peter Graff and Alistair Bell

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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