US lawmakers approve F-16 jet sale to Turkey following NATO expansion support

The proposed sale of Lockheed Martin-manufactured F-16 jets to Turkey moves forward with the tentative backing of key congressional committee leaders, following Turkish President Erdoğan's agreement to Sweden's NATO membership.

The Biden administration informed Congress about its intention to offer Turkey new F-16s, estimated at $23 billion.

This decision received a nod from leaders of both the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, who have chosen not to oppose the deal. The package comprises 40 new F-16 aircraft and upgrades for 79 of Turkey's existing fighters.

Concurrently, the administration is looking to sell up to 40 cutting-edge F-35 jets to Greece, potentially valued at $8.6 billion—a move influenced by the desire to balance regional power dynamics.

Turkey's parliamentary ratification of Sweden's NATO bid and improved relations with Greece have set the stage for the F-16 deal. This follows a recent approval of a $259 million upgrade for Turkey's F-16 avionics software by Washington.

Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed conditional support for the deal, emphasizing expectations for Turkey to bolster human rights, counter Russian aggression in Ukraine, and temper its Middle Eastern discourse.

Cardin's stance marks a shift from his predecessor, Senator Bob Menendez, who opposed arms sales to Turkey due to concerns including Turkey's human rights issues, territorial disputes with Greece, and its acquisition of Russian S-400 defense systems.

The F-16 transaction is revisited since Turkey was excluded from the advanced F-35 fighter program, amidst rising U.S.-Turkey tensions. Approval from the lead members of relevant congressional committees is pivotal for foreign arms sales, potentially serving as a veto point for such deals.