US Lawmakers Approve Sale of F-16 Fighter Jets to Turkey Amid NATO Developments

U.S. Congress Approves Sale of F-16 Fighter Jets to Turkey and Greece

The U.S. Congress has given the green light to the administration's plan to sell 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in a deal valued at up to $23 billion, as confirmed by three U.S. government officials. This approval comes after leaders of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees informally gave their consent to the sale of the Lockheed Martin-made aircraft. In a separate move, the administration intends to notify Congress of its intention to sell Greece up to 40 more advanced F-35 fighter jets in a deal worth up to $8.6 billion, as disclosed by two U.S. government officials.

Tensions and Approvals

The tensions between the two Mediterranean neighbors have prompted lawmakers to seek this deal, which is expected to clear Congress. Notably, this decision follows Turkey's parliament's approval of Sweden's accession into NATO and signs of reconciliation between Turkey and its fellow NATO ally, Greece. This transaction represents the second major military sale to Turkey approved by Congress in recent months, following the $259 million package of avionics software upgrades for Turkey’s existing F-16 fleet in April.

Senator's Stance

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that he would permit the sale after Ankara's approval of Sweden’s membership bid. Expressing his concerns over various issues related to Turkey, including human rights, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the country's rhetoric in the Middle East, Cardin conveyed that he has consistently raised these concerns with the Biden administration. He also expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions between the administration and Turkish officials to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of a productive direction in their engagement.

Political Impact

The top four leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs panels play a crucial role in signing off on foreign arms sales presented to Congress. This gives the top Democrats and Republicans on those committees an effective veto over the Biden administration’s plans to sell U.S.-made fighters to Turkey. Cardin's decision marks a significant shift from his predecessor atop the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who was a staunch opponent of selling U.S.-made jets to Ankara.

In addition to the NATO developments, various grievances, such as Turkey’s human rights record, incursions into Greek airspace, and the purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, have contributed to the tensions between Turkey and the U.S. It's worth noting that the sale of F-16s comes after the U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter program, built by the same manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.