Erdoğan calls on U.S. to take steps to solve F-16 dispute

Published December 06,2023

Subscribe

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements to the press on his return flight after his official go to to Qatar.

“Regarding the F-16, we made it clear to our counterparts that, just as the United States has a Congress, we have our own Parliament. We cannot make any statements until our Parliament reaches a final decision. As the President, I brought this matter before Parliament and received your gratitude. I fulfilled my duty, but I also anticipate reciprocity from you. Therefore, let us work together and pass this through your Congress simultaneously. This is my request,” Erdoğan confused in his feedback whereas asking the Washington aspect to make efforts to discover a answer to the f-16 dispute if they need Sweden to be a NATO member.

Question: After Türkiye‘s removing from the F-35 program, it was said that our software to amass F-16s with modernization kits was considered positively politically by the U.S. administration. However, there’s a congressional course of based on the necessities of the American system. But evidently this congressional course of goes considerably slowly and ambiguously. We are beneath the impression that it’s progressing a bit slowly. What is the present state of affairs relating to the U.S. Congress or, typically, with the F-16s? On the opposite hand, there was an intention for Türkiye to buy Eurofighter Typhoon plane. In normal, there was a notion that each points are related to Türkiye approving Sweden’s NATO membership in current occasions. Besides, there may be at present a course of being evaluated in our Parliament. Sir, are the nations we’re coping with making an attempt to deliver Türkiye to the desk with sure extra situations past this?

While answering the query associated to the f-16 dispute between Ankara and Washington, Erdoğan confused the next statements in his remarks:

“In the matter of the F-16, we told our counterparts, ‘If the United States has a Congress, we also have our Congress, meaning our Parliament.’ There is nothing to say until a final decision comes from our Parliament. ‘As the President, I referred this to the parliament, and you thanked me. I did my duty, but I also expect something from you. Simultaneously, pass this through your Congress on this matter, let’s take these steps together.’ I am saying this.

Another issue is the Eurofighter Typhoon matter… Moreover, regarding the Eurofighter, the view of the United Kingdom is actually positive. Unfortunately, there is an issue in Germany. However, to resolve the issues, there has been a positive approach from the United Kingdom. They say they will discuss the matter with the Germans. At this point, we also have other alternatives.”