Biden administration asks US Congress to authorise F-16 fighter jet sale to Türkiye which would pave the way to repair ties between both countries.
Several key lawmakers who were instrumental in Ankara's removal from F-35 programme are now potentially inclined to approve the sale of 40 F-16 fighters and 80 kits to modernise Ankara's existing fleet, according to Defense News website.
"Turkish people no longer take seriously any informal pledge by the West to supply the Patriot," says the country's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun.
Any significant shift toward the United States as a supplier is likely to trigger a backlash from Europe's fragmented defence industry.
Turkey’s defence officials are in negotiations with US counterparts over remaining issues of its removal from the F-35 joint fighter jets programme for which Ankara had paid $1.4 billion.
Ankara and Washington have engaged in series of negotiations to improve Ankara's aircraft fleet following a compensation of $1.4 billion after Washington removed the country from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Turkey's presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin, addressed the unlawful nature of Turkey's exclusion from the F-35 programme, while highlighting the exceptions to the role made for other nations who purchased the S-400.
The two leaders discussed several issues including Turkey's removal from the F-35 programme in 2019.
Turkey has made $1.4 billion in payments for the F-35 fighter jets, a project made possible by the joint investments of 13 countries around the world.
Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Azerbaijan, the Turkish president said Turkey and the US will discuss purchase of F-35 fighter jets during the the COP26 climate summit in Scotland.
Turkey is determined to get back $1.4B as talks on F-35 fighter jets continue with the US, President Erdogan says, adding that the issue of Ankara’s rights will be raised with President Biden in Rome.
Increased dialogue and cooperation with Turkey would better serve neighbourly relations and regional stability.
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for all latest in-depth, on the ground reporting from around the world.
Copyright © 2022 TRT World.
Like
Follow