US says it ‘intends to move forward’ with transfer of F-16 jets to Turkey

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The US national security adviser said on Tuesday that the US would transfer F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress, hours after Turkey’s president agreed to lift his veto on Sweden joining Nato.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s U-turn on Stockholm’s joining the US-led military alliance – which followed heavy lobbying from Washington and other Western capitals – has cleared a major headache for NATO as it faces Russia’s war against Ukraine. is increasing its security in response to

US President Joe Biden has not put any caveats or conditions on (the transfer). , , And he intends to move forward with that transfer in consultation with Congress”, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said ahead of the NATO summit.

Biden administration officials have been careful not to suggest any apparent connection between the fighter jets and Sweden’s membership bid. But Ankara’s decision to drop its protest sends a strong message to the US Congress, which must approve sending the F-16s, a move previously opposed by key members.

Erdoğan softened on Sweden’s membership of the military alliance after a flurry of diplomatic efforts on Monday to reach an agreement. NATO, EU and US officials tried to find ways to win over the Turkish president.

Biden spoke to Erdoğan on Monday on his way to a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and is scheduled to meet him later on Tuesday. They discussed how “the US and Turkey can move forward positively” if Ankara “takes a big step” and green-lights Sweden’s bid, Sullivan said.

The Turkish President met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Christerson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after a separate meeting with European Council President Charles Michel focused on “re-energizing” Turkey’s stalled EU membership process .

Michel said that although the processes were completely separate, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions, giving the green light to Sweden’s entry into NATO would create “a good atmosphere in Brussels among those who want to help you”. want”.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez, who has been against the jet transfer, indicated on Monday that he may drop his long-standing opposition to the move amid discussions with the White House.

“We are in talks with the administration,” Menendez told Reuters. “If they can find some way to ensure that Turkey’s aggression against its neighbors stops, which has been quiet for the past several months, that’s great but has to be a permanent reality.”

Last year, Biden first offered support to the idea of ​​sending F-16s after Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO.