Blinken visits Ankara
US open to fighter jet delivery to Turkey
02/20/2023, 2:05 p.m
The US Congress has long blocked the delivery of fighter jets to Ankara. During his trip to Turkey, US Secretary of State Blinken emphasized that the planes would be made available. The condition for this could be Turkey’s approval of Sweden and Finland joining NATO.
During a visit to Ankara, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear his country’s willingness to supply Turkey with F-16 fighter jets. “The Biden administration strongly supports the package to modernize the existing F-16s and procure new aircraft,” Blinken told journalists in Ankara. Since Turkey is an “ally and partner of NATO, it is in our national interest and in the interest (…) of the alliance,” he said at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. However, he could not give a timetable for the delivery because the purchase is subject to approval by the US Congress.
The sale of the F-16 fighter jets has long been blocked by the US Congress because of the human rights situation in Turkey and Ankara’s threatening gestures against Greece. It has now been speculated that the US could use the fighter jet supply as a lever to gain Turkish approval for Sweden and Finland to join NATO. 27 Democratic and Republican senators called on Biden for such a blockade in early February.
Turkey criticizes “unfair” condition for delivery
Cavusoglu stressed that it was “unfair to make NATO accession of Sweden and Finland a condition for the F-16”. These are “two different things” and Turkey’s hands should not be tied. For his part, Blinken reiterated that Finland and Sweden should be admitted to NATO “as soon as possible”. Both countries have already “taken concrete steps” to address Turkey’s concerns, he said.
Ankara is blocking NATO accessions over alleged support from the two Scandinavian countries for Kurdish activists. The Turkish government is demanding a tougher stance against activists in the country, especially from Stockholm, and the extradition of suspects whom it considers “terrorists”. In addition to Turkey, Hungary is also blocking the accession of both countries.
Blinking promises help after earthquakes
Blinken arrived in Turkey on Sunday. The US Secretary of State’s first trip to Turkey since taking office two years ago was also marked by the devastating earthquake in the Syrian-Turkish border area two weeks ago. Blinken pledged $100 million in additional US aid. Together with Cavusoglu, the US Secretary of State flew over the disaster area on Sunday.
Turkey has already paid $1.4 billion for an order from the US of modern F-35 fighter jets that were never delivered. The contract was frozen by the US in 2019 after Ankara bought the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Ankara then insisted on compensation and at least demanded the delivery of older generation fighter jets (F-16).