ISTANBUL: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said Türkiye expects Washington to fulfill its commitments on the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
Turkish media citing diplomatic sources said Fidan told Blinken that Ankara expects the US administration and Congress to act in accordance with the spirit of alliance and fulfill the commitments made.
Türkiye wants to purchase the latest model of F-16 Block 70 aircraft from the US as well as 79 modernization kits to upgrade its remaining F-16s to Block 70 level.
Fidan also told Blinken that Turkish parliament is discussing the process of Sweden’s NATO membership.
READ ALSO: Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 21,000 as Israel Continues Attacks Despite Calls for CeasefireThe Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday approved legislation, greenlighting Sweden’s accession to NATO.
The development comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed Sweden’s NATO accession protocol and submitted it to the parliament in October.
Crisis in Gaza also discussed
The two leaders also discussed recent developments in Gaza. Fidan stressed the need for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the start of peace talks.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that Israeli troops had killed around 195 Palestinian people and injured 325 in the last 24 hours, bringing the recorded death toll to more than 21,110, with 55,243 injured in Israeli assaults in the coastal Palestinian territory since Oct. 7.
The UN has said that some 1.87 million Palestinians, over 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have left their homes because of the Israeli bombardment of the besieged enclave.
The Israeli raids have almost destroyed entire neighborhoods in northern Gaza. Israeli ground troops have been facing heavy resistance from Hamas fighters in the area.
