The U.S. State Department notified Congress on Friday of the approval for Turkey’s purchase of 40 F-16 fighter jets for $23 billion after the country approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed the decision and highlighted the significance of the sale in contributing to Turkey’s defense capabilities. A companion sale of $8.6 billion for advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece was also announced by the State Department on Friday.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced on Friday that he is endorsing the sale to Turkey. His decision to green-light the sale of the fighter jets was contingent on Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership, which was granted by Sweden’s parliament earlier in the week. “Sweden has long met all requirements necessary for accession to the Alliance, and this move represents a significant step forward in strengthening our Euro-Atlantic community and interoperability in the face of the Putin regime’s unprovoked and illegal incursion into Eastern Europe,” Mr. Cardin said in a statement. While Mr. Cardin approved the sale, he expressed concerns about Turkey’s human rights record, both domestically and globally.
The prolonged delay in Sweden’s NATO membership approval by Turkey was tied to various concessions sought by Ankara. These included concerns related to Kurdish groups, arms sales bans, and calls for Turkey’s assistance in joining the European Union. Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had urged the United States to override a hold placed by former Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) on the F-16 sale. Mr. Menendez had stepped down in September, and Mr. Cardin, who succeeded him, maintained the hold until Turkey confirmed Sweden’s NATO accession.
Mr. Cardin accused Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban of “obstruction” of Sweden’s path to joining NATO and putting a dampener on what should be a moment to celebrate its expansion. “Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has once again shown himself to be the least reliable member of NATO, in addition to playing the role of spoiler in the European Union’s effort to provide much-needed economic assistance to Ukraine,” Mr. Cardin said, criticizing Budapest’s frustrating efforts for the European Union to commit more economic aid to Ukraine.
Lockheed Martin is set to be the main contractor for the sale of the F-16 fighter jets. The proposed sale includes the acquisition of 40 new F-16 aircraft by Turkey and the modernization of 79 existing F-16 aircraft to V-configuration. It encompasses engines, radar systems, missile launchers, bombs, guidance systems, and various related elements. The Greek sale involves 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and associated equipment. This arms deal is viewed by the State Department not only as a bolstering of Turkey’s defense capabilities but also as a strategic move to expand NATO’s presence and counter Russian aggression in the region.