Erdogan demands F-16 fighter jets in return
For months, Turkey has been delaying the approval of Sweden's accession to NATO, which was promised back in July. Now President Erdogan is making it clear: only when the USA approves the delivery of F-16 fighter jets will Ankara also deliver. Stockholm is no longer the issue.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made his country's ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO dependent on the approval of F-16 fighter jets from the USA. The US said it "will not take action on the F-16 issue until Congress approves them, but I also have a parliament," Erdogan told reporters this afternoon. If Washington makes its contribution "simultaneously and in solidarity", the parliament in Ankara will do the same, he said.
In response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the traditionally non-aligned Sweden applied for NATO membership together with its neighbor Finland in May of last year. Finland joined the military alliance in April, while Sweden is still waiting for the approval of member states Turkey and Hungary.
Ankara has been delaying Sweden's accession to NATO for months. Erdogan gave his word at the NATO summit in July that Sweden could join, but the Turkish parliament has still not ratified the application.
US MPs concerned about tensions with Athens
NATO partner Turkey needs the F-16 fighter jets demanded by Erdogan to modernize its air force. The US government has shown itself to be open to a sale worth 20 billion dollars. However, several members of the US Congress have expressed concern about the human rights situation in Turkey and tensions with NATO partner Greece.
Further potential for conflict between Washington and Ankara lies in the US support for Israel in its war against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Kurdish groups in Syria. The USA has supported the Kurdish militia YPG in its fight against the jihadist militia IS - Turkey, on the other hand, regards it as a partner organization of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it persecutes.
At least Erdogan now seems to be addressing the tensions with Athens: During a visit to Athens on Thursday, the Turkish president announced a new chapter in relations with his arch-rival. It was his first official visit to Athens since 2017.
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- Despite the concerns expressed by some US MPs over human rights and tensions with Greece, the US government has shown interest in selling F-16 fighter jets to Turkey to modernize its air force, as demanded by President Erdogan.
- In an attempt to mend relations with Greece, President Erdogan visited Athens for the first time since 2017 and announced a new chapter in Turkey-Greece relations, acknowledging the importance of regional stability within NATO.
- The approval of Sweden's NATO membership by Turkey has been hung up for months, and Erdogan now makes it clear that only when the USA agrees to deliver F-16 fighter jets will Turkey ratify Sweden's application, suggesting a strong connection between the two issues within the context of NATO.
Source: www.ntv.de
