Turkey and the United States have finalized a significant deal for the sale of F-16 warplanes, valued at $23 billion, following extensive negotiations and Washington’s approval. Turkish defense ministry sources confirmed on Thursday that the contract has been signed, with delegations from both countries now ironing out the specifics.
Under this agreement, Turkey is set to receive 40 new F-16s and upgrades for 79 of its existing jets. The State Department praised the deal as a substantial advancement, highlighting the F-16s as the most advanced version available, reserved solely for close allies and partners.
This move underscores the enduring security partnership between the US and Turkey, as emphasized in a recent social media announcement by the State Department. The agreement was formally notified to Congress in January, alongside a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece.
The approval process in the US was contingent upon Turkey’s fulfillment of certain legal requirements, including the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership, which was delayed for over a year but finally completed in January. This delay had strained relations with Western allies amid ongoing tensions over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
President Erdogan is expected to attend the NATO leaders’ summit in Washington next month, following the postponement of his scheduled meeting with US President Joe Biden last month due to logistical issues.
