The Biden administration has given its approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye, marking a significant development in the expansion of NATO. This move comes after the Turkish government ratified Sweden’s membership in NATO, a decision that holds increased importance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The State Department officially notified Congress of its approval for the $23 billion F-16 sale to Turkiye, as well as an $8.6 billion sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Greece. The approval came shortly after Turkiye deposited its “instrument of ratification” for Sweden’s accession to NATO with Washington, which serves as the repository for alliance documents. Additionally, several key members of Congress lifted their objections to the sale.
The sale to Turkiye includes 40 new F-16s and equipment to modernize 79 of its existing F-16 fleet. On the other hand, Greece will receive 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and related equipment.
Turkiye, a NATO ally, has long sought to upgrade its F-16 fleet and had made its ratification of Sweden’s membership contingent on the approval of the new planes. While the Biden administration supported the sale, some lawmakers expressed concerns regarding human rights issues.
However, these objections have been overcome, according to officials. Senator Ben Cardin, D-Md., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that he still had concerns about Turkiye’s rights record but agreed to the sale based on commitments made by Turkiye to improve it. He emphasized the importance of expanding the NATO alliance and working with global allies to counter Russian aggression against its peaceful neighbors.
Turkiye had delayed its approval of Sweden’s NATO membership for over a year, citing concerns that Sweden did not take Turkiye’s national security concerns seriously enough. This included Turkiye’s fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers security threats.
The delays had caused frustration among the U.S. and other NATO allies, as most of them swiftly accepted Sweden and Finland into the alliance after the Nordic states dropped their longstanding military neutrality following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Sweden’s formal accession to NATO now hinges on Hungary, the last remaining NATO ally yet to approve its membership. U.S. and NATO officials anticipate that Hungary will act promptly, especially in light of Turkiye’s decision.
In conclusion, the Biden administration’s approval of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye is a significant step in expanding NATO and strengthening alliances in the face of Russian aggression. While concerns about Turkiye’s human rights record were raised, commitments to improve were made, leading to the approval of the sale. The ratification of Sweden’s membership in NATO and the pending approval from Hungary further solidify the alliance’s stance against security threats.