Biden asks Congress to approve new arms deal selling F-16 fighter upgrades for Turkey
Biden asks Congress to approve new $400 million arms deal to sell missiles and radar to Turkey for its fleet of F-16 fighters
- The Biden administration is giving $400 million in upgrades for Turkey’s fighter jets
- President Biden has asked Congress to approve the deal in an important move
- The deal would provide missiles and new radar technology to Ankara
- It represents a major boost for relations between NATO members
- It comes as Turkey continues to deliver more arms and aid to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion
President Joe Biden has formally requested that Congress approve the sale of upgraded weapons systems, radar and other technical equipment to dramatically improve the capabilities of Turkey’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
The potential deal represents a major development in Ankara-Washington relations, and is a result of Turkey showing significant support to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has allowed two rounds of Ukrainian-Russian peace talks to be held on Turkish soil, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine, including the Bayraktar TB2 drone, which has become a highly effective tool for Ukraine’s armed forces. the country.
U.S. officials familiar with the request said the Biden administration could use the deal to gauge levels of support in Congress for a separate proposal to sell 40 new F-16s to Turkey, the government said. Wall Street Journal.
Relations between Ankara and Washington have been tense since Turkey relied on Russia for its air defense systems in 2017.
Members in both houses of Congress would also be wary of forging too strong a relationship with Erdogan over concerns about his country’s human rights record, though the US State Department said last year wanting to improve ties with the NATO member.
“Turkey is an important NATO ally and a crucial regional partner, and the United States is committed to improving relations between our two countries. It is in our interest to keep Turkey anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community,” a statement read in August.
President Joe Biden has formally requested that Congress approve the sale of upgraded weapons systems, radar and other technical equipment to dramatically improve the capabilities of Turkey’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
US officials familiar with the request said the Biden administration could use the deal to gauge levels of support in Congress for a separate proposal to sell 40 new F-16s to Turkey, according to the Wall Street Journal ( a few F-16 fighters are pictured in Arizona)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has authorized two rounds of Ukrainian-Russian peace talks on Turkish soil, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine – including the Bayraktar TB2 drone that has become a highly effective tool for the country’s armed forces
The deal is expected to be worth approximately $400 million and includes the sale of a variety of missiles, advanced radar equipment and other technical upgrades for Turkish fighter jets.
Meanwhile, a further sale of 40 F-16s to Turkey would likely see Washington and Ankara develop much closer ties – something the Biden administration is reportedly interested in amid fears that an extended period of frosty relations could lead Erdogan to could encourage cooperation with Russia and China. .
Erdogan reportedly first expressed interest in purchasing a second fleet of F-16 fighters from the US in a phone call with Biden in March.
But several lawmakers on both sides of the floor opposed the deal, despite Turkey playing an important role in supplying arms and support to Ukraine.
“Turkey is a critical NATO ally and so I am open to allowing them to buy the F16, but it takes a lot of conviction. I’m not there yet,” said Sen. Jim Risch, the leading Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.
The State Department “does not publicly confirm or comment on proposed defense transfers until they are formally communicated to Congress,” a spokesman said.