The US State Department Gives Green Light for Sale of F-16 Jets to Turkey

An F-16 fighter jet is seen in Santiago, Chile, in September 2023. The US State Department is proceeding with sales to Turkey.

The State Department announced the approval of the sale of approximately $23 billion worth of fighter jets and equipment to Turkey, marking the final steps in a long-delayed transaction that has strained the relationship between Ankara and Washington. The sale includes 40 F-16 fighter jets and upgrades for dozens of other jets.

The finalization of the sale had been contingent on Sweden’s accession to NATO, with the US postponing the transfer of the Lockheed Martin-produced aircraft until Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved Sweden’s NATO membership. New NATO members require unanimous approval by existing members. Sweden’s historical granting of asylum to several Kurdish critics of the Turkish government had been a stumbling block to the country’s NATO accession following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Turkey accused Sweden of harboring Kurds with links to terrorism.

In response to Turkey’s concerns, the Swedish government tightened its anti-terrorism laws and implemented other security measures. Currently, Hungary is the only NATO member withholding approval of Sweden’s accession.

The public announcement of the aircraft sale came after the State Department informed Congress of the plan, in addition to another set of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters that the US will permit Greece to purchase for $8.6 billion. The delay in the Turkish sale also involved tensions between Ankara and Athens, although relations had recently improved due to efforts by US diplomats, including Secretary of State Blinken, to promote public engagement between the two nations.

Since October 2021, Congress had been slow to move forward with the Turkish transaction due to concerns about Turkey’s human rights record, as well as its policies toward Russia, Israel, and Hamas. Some Democrats had explicitly tied the F-16 sales to Sweden’s NATO bid.

President Biden urged congressional leaders to approve the sale “without delay” following Turkey’s parliament approval of Sweden’s NATO accession. Despite ongoing questions about Turkey’s foreign and domestic policies, Congress is not expected to attempt to block the sale, with two weeks remaining to object after the State Department’s formal notification.