Türkiye says Biden admin’s will to determine fate of F-16 jet deal

Türkiye says Biden admin’s will to determine fate of F-16 jet deal

BAKU. TurkicWorld:

Türkiye’s top diplomat on Monday said the potential $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets would be completed smoothly if the Biden administration proves the will to seal the deal, reports TurkicWorld with the reference to Daily Sabah.

“The will is with the administration here. If the administration stands resolutely, there will be no problems,” Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his Bosnian counterpart Bisera Turkovic in Ankara.

His remarks came after the Biden administration reportedly conveyed to Congress its intention to sell the fighter jets to Türkiye, a move that sparked an immediate objection from a senior U.S. lawmaker who has long opposed the deal.

NATO member Türkiye has been seeking to modernize its existing warplanes to update its air force and sought to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-16 jets and nearly 80 modernization kits from the U.S.

Technical talks between the two sides recently concluded, Cavusoglu also confirmed on Monday.

The State Department sent the informal notice to Congress on Thursday, sources told Reuters on Friday, informing committees overseeing arms sales in the Senate and House of Representatives of its intention to proceed with the proposed deal.

The Biden administration has said it supports the sale and has been in touch for months with Congress on an informal basis to win its approval. However, it has failed so far to secure a green light.