Published January 24,2024
Subscribe
The US on Tuesday welcomed Türkiye‘s approval of Sweden‘s entrance into the NATO alliance, saying the matter has been an “important priority” for President Joe Biden.
“We welcome the Turkish parliament’s vote approving Sweden’s application to join @NATO,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s nationwide safety advisor, mentioned on X.
“This has been an important priority for @POTUS. Sweden is a strong, capable defense partner whose membership in NATO will make the U.S. and the Alliance safer and stronger,” he added.
The Turkish parliament hours earlier overwhelmingly ratified Sweden’s membership in a 287 to 55 vote. Hungary is now the one NATO member state that has not signed off on Sweden’s entry into the alliance.
Finland and Sweden-both Nordic nations near or bordering Russia-applied for NATO membership quickly after Russia launched its battle on Ukraine in February 2022.
Finland grew to become NATO’s thirty first ally in April 2023 following approval from all the alliance’s legislatures.
BIDEN CONTINUES TO SUPPORT SALE OF F-16S TO ANKARA, OFFICIALS WORKING WITH CONGRESS
Following the Turkish parliament’s approval, a National Security Council spokesperson advised Anadolu that Biden continues to help the sale of F-16s and their modernization kits to Ankara, saying it “would help facilitate NATO interoperability and is in the US national interest.”
“President Biden has long been clear that he supports selling F-16s to Türkiye to modernize their air fleet,” the spokesperson mentioned on situation of anonymity. “Congress has an important role in approving arms sales, and we are working with Congress on this.”
Türkiye submitted a letter of request in October 2021 to buy 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 79 modernization kits from the US.
The Biden administration informally notified Congress of the sale final January and a tiered evaluation course of was initiated to begin negotiations with Congress.
Key lawmakers in Congress have tied the F-16 sale to Türkiye’s approval of Sweden’s NATO accession bid.
Sen. Jim Risch, the highest Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, mentioned he was “pleased” with the Turkish parliament’s approval.
“I look forward to the accession protocols being filed by @RTErdoğan,” Risch mentioned on X, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“Now, I call on the last remaining country, #Hungary, to quickly ratify Sweden’s accession,” he added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr