Graham visited Türkiye over weekend and met Turkish presidential spokesperson Kalin.
US Senator Lindsey Graham has said he supports the Biden administration’s decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye following a visit to the country.
Graham visited Türkiye over the weekend, where he met with Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin on Saturday.
In a tweet after the meeting, Graham said he had a “very productive trip” to Türkiye, which, he stressed, is a “member of NATO and a valuable American ally”.
“While we have had a problematic relationship at times, it is imperative Turkey and the US take steps to strengthen the ties between our two nations,” Graham wrote on Twitter.
“I will do all in my power to support the Biden Administration’s decision to sell F-16s to the Turkish Air Force,” he said.
READ MORE: US govt 'supports' F-16 fighter jet sales to Türkiye
$6 billion deal
According to a statement by the Turkish Presidency, the two officials discussed US-Türkiye bilateral relations, the fight against terrorism, cooperation in the defence industry, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Black Sea grain shipments as well as other regional issues.
Cooperation in the field of defence and making progress on the F-16 issue will serve the interests of the two countries, the statement said.
Graham said the fighter jets will bolster the Turkish military that is “most definitely in America’s national security interests.”
The Turkish government requested the F-16s and modernisation kits in October 2021.
The $6 billion deal would include the sale of 40 newly built F-16 fighter jets and modernisation kits for 80 F-16 C/D models that the Turkish Air Force has in its inventory.
READ MORE: The Russo-Ukrainian War shows that Türkiye remains an important NATO ally
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