US President Joe Biden will move forward with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of a summit of NATO leaders starting later in the day in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Sullivan said President Joe Biden “has been clear that he supports the transfer.”
“He has not placed any reservations on this … He intends to go ahead with this transfer,” he said.
Sullivan did not elaborate on the timeline, according to Reuters.
Late on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to advance Sweden’s application to join the NATO alliance in parliament, following months of pressure from the US and its allies.
Some NATO partners believe that Turkey, which in October 2021 requested a $20 billion purchase of Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.NF-16 fighter jets and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes, is using Sweden to pressure Washington for warplanes, the agency notes.
Sullivan also said the NATO allies would give a “unified, positive message” about Ukraine’s path to joining the alliance during the summit, a main topic of discussion in Vilnius.
Source: News Beast
With 6 years of experience, I bring to the table captivating and informative writing in the world news category. My expertise covers a range of industries, including tourism, technology, forex and stocks. From brief social media posts to in-depth articles, I am dedicated to creating compelling content for various platforms.
