Published January 27,2024
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The US State Department authorized Friday the pending $23 billion sale of F-16 plane and modernization kits to Türkiye, sending formal notification to Congress.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security of the United States by improving the air capabilities and interoperability of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ally that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency mentioned in an announcement.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it mentioned.
The approval got here after Türkiye submitted paperwork associated to Sweden’s NATO membership protocol after it was ratified Tuesday by the Turkish Parliament.
Türkiye made a request to the US in October 2021 to buy 40 new F-16 Block 70 plane, in addition to 79 modernization kits to improve its remaining F-16s to Block 70 stage.
The request consists of 32 F-16 C Block 70 plane, 8 F-16 D Block 70 plane, 48 F110-GE-129D engines, in addition to 119 for the modernization program — 79 put in, 40 spares.
The State Department informally notified Congress final January of the F-16 fighter jet sale however key lawmakers on Capitol Hill have vowed to nix the deal due to a number of calls for, together with making the acquisition contingent on Ankara’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
Congress has the precise to object to the State Department’s willpower inside 15 business days on the market approvals granted to NATO members, together with Türkiye, a member of the alliance for greater than 70 years.
Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin mentioned in an announcement Friday that he would allow the sale after Ankara’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
Sen. Jim Risch, rating member of the Foreign Relations Committee, mentioned in late October that he would drop his objection to the sale after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave a greenlight to Sweden’s bid to hitch NATO.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks launched statements that mentioned that they authorized the sale to Türkiye.
The State Department additionally notified Congress on Friday on the $8.6 billion potential sale of 40 F-35 plane and associated gear to Greece.
Source: www.anews.com.tr