US to move ahead with smaller F-16 equipment sale to Turkey
The US is ready to move forward with the sale of a smaller modernisation package for Turkey’s existing F-16 aircraft, Reuters reported.
US congressional leaders gave their informal approval for the sale, which includes radars and avionics, on Monday, according to the report.
One US official and another source told Reuters that the value of the deal would be in the millions of dollars.
This comes just a few weeks after it was announced that Turkey would start the process of ratifying Finland's Nato membership bid in parliament ahead of Turkish elections scheduled on 14 May.
Reuters reported that the US State Department could send the formal notification of the smaller sale as early as Monday. If the package is cleared by Congress during the formal approval process, it would be the first major military sale to Turkey approved by Congress in years.
Stay informed with MEE's newsletters
Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked
"The United States and Turkey have deep defence and security ties, and Turkey’s continued Nato interoperability remains a critical priority," a State Department spokesperson said, adding that the administration supports Turkey's efforts to modernise its fleet.
This package is separate from the $20bn sale of the new F-16 jet fighters to Turkey, a deal that is still in limbo in Congress because of continuous opposition.
Sources told Reuters that approval does not mean the bigger sale will go through Congress, as US lawmakers are seeking further assurances from Turkey on several issues.
Middle East Eye reported last year that opponents of US weapons sales to Turkey mobilised in Washington, highlighting the uphill battle Ankara faces to complete new arms purchases.
"We and many others in Congress want to make sure Turkey doesn't exploit the war in Ukraine to move an arms deal through," a congressional aide who wanted to remain anonymous told MEE last year.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
