Erdogan links ratification of Sweden's NATO application to fighter jet deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again linked his country's approval of Sweden's accession to NATO to a fighter jet delivery from the USA. He had sent the Nato application to parliament for ratification, "I (now) expect something from you too", Erdogan said, according to his office, addressing the USA.
He had told his interlocutors that the approval of the US Congress for the delivery of the F-16s and the ratification of the Turkish parliament should take place at the same time, he said on a flight back from Qatar. Erdogan had already linked his approval to the fighter jet deal in September.
At the end of October, he then submitted Sweden's NATO accession protocol to parliament for ratification - since then it has been stuck in a committee. Erdogan's Islamic-conservative governing alliance has a majority in parliament - it is highly unlikely that the parliamentarians will act against the president's wishes.
Turkey wants to buy new F-16 fighter jets and modern equipment from the USA. The US government supports the upgrade of existing F-16 fighter jets and the provision of new jets for Turkey. However, there is headwind from senators in the USA.
In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Sweden applied for NATO membership together with Finland in May 2022. Finland was welcomed as the 31st member of the alliance at the beginning of April. Sweden still requires approval from Turkey and Hungary in order to be accepted.
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- The ratification of Sweden's NATO application by Turkey's parliament is contingent upon the delivery of F-16 fighter jets from the USA, as stated by President Erdogan, linking the two issues once again.
- Erdogan anticipates action from the USA on the delivery of F-16 fighter jets, as he had conveyed the expectation that the approval of the US Congress and the ratification by the Turkish parliament should occur simultaneously.
- Sweden's NATO accession protocol remains in limbo within a Turkish parliamentary committee, as Erdogan has submitted it for ratification, with his Islamic-conservative governing alliance having a majority and it being unlikely for parliamentarians to act against his wishes.
Source: www.ntv.de
