WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has discussed support for Turkiye’s military modernization in a phone conversation with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler.
The important phone call comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to support Sweden’s bid to join NATO, altough his decision required the approval from the parliament.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has supported Turkiye’s desire to purchase fourty new Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter planes along with modernization kits for its existing war jets from the US, Pentagon said in a statement on late Monday.
Biden said that he was ready to work with President Erdogan on solidifying defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic region, according to Western media.
Opposition in US Congress
However, some memevers in Congress, mainly Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Bob Menendez, have opposed the measure over Turkiye blocking Sweden’s NATO membership, its human rights record and its ties with Greece, among other issues.
Mendez, a Democrat member of the Congress, said that he was still had concerns on providing the fighter planes to Turkiye.
He said that if the the Biden administration can find a way to ensure that Turkiye’s aggression against its neighbourng countries ceases, that is great but there needs to be a permanent reality.
Menendez added that there needs to be a way to increase the security of Greece and obtain future actions assurances from Turkiye.
Meanwhile, Erdogan said on Monday Turkiye’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership bid and the sale of F-16 planes are not to be linked to each other.
He gave the statement before leaving for the NATO summit in Vilnius.
Erdogan is likely to hold further discussions with Biden at the meeting on the purchase of F-16 planes.