June 13. () –
The authorities of the United States and Turkey have signed this Thursday a series of contracts on the sale and purchase of F-16 fighters, an agreement reached between the parties after Washington withdrew the block established for the sale of this type of aircraft until Ankara agreed. to give approval for Sweden’s entry into NATO.
Sources close to the Turkish Ministry of Defense have confirmed the signing of these documents and have indicated that delegations from both countries are now working to refine the details through negotiations.
Thus, these same sources have explained that the details will be made known to the public once the pertinent decisions are made, as reported by the Turkish news agency Anatolia.
At the end of January, the United States Department of State announced the approval of the sale of these aircraft following the signature of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sweden’s entry into the Alliance.
However, the sale and purchase of these aircraft had previously encountered various obstacles given Washington’s fear that the F-16 technology would end up in the hands of Russia given its proximity to Turkey in the midst of its invasion of Ukraine.
The agreement between Washington and Ankara is expected to allow Turkey to acquire, among others, F-16 aircraft and kits to modernize its current fleet. Beyond the material, Turkey will also benefit from personnel training programs and training equipment, engineering technical and logistical support services and studies.
From the United States they have defended that “this sale will support the country’s foreign policy and national security objectives” by improving the air capabilities and interoperability of a NATO ally, which is a force for political and economic stability in Europe. “.
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