US top senator discussing F-16 sales to Turkey with Biden

Senator Bob Menendez chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee – Reuters
Senator Bob Menendez chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee – Reuters

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Hours after Turkey agreed to forward to parliament Sweden’s bid to become a NATO member, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said he was in talks with the US President Joe Biden over the US F-16 sales to Turkey.

Menendez, in a brief hallway interview, said that since there was a temporary “lull” in Turkey’s “aggression against its neighbors,” he could make a decision about the F-16 sales though he still has concerns about Turkey.

In April, Menendez showed his opposition to the sale of F-16 fighters to Turkey, saying “Turkey has not done enough to be rewarded in this way.” 

The Biden administration, in January this year, informally notified the Congress of its intention to sell 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, along with 80 upgrade kits to modernize the Turkish Air Force’s existing F-16 fleet.

In February, 29 senators informed US President Joe Biden in a letter that Congress will not support the F-16 sale if Turkey does not stop blocking Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO. 

In April, a $259 million package including avionics software upgrades for Turkey’s current fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft was approved by the US Congress, days after Turkey ratified Finland’s NATO accession and it appeared like it was easing tension with its neighbor Greece, ahead of the Turkish elections.

Menendez added in case the US administration could insure that Turkey’s aggression against its neighbors is ceased, “that’s great but there has to be a permanent reality.”

He added that there needed to be a way to “beef up Greece’s security” and obtain “assurances about future actions.”

Turkey and Greece have been at odds for decades over a number of bilateral disputes, including maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean, overlapping claims to their continental shelves, and the long-running Cyprus dispute.

Since 1974 relations between the two countries have remained tense in the follow of invasion by Ankara of Northern Cyprus which fell to the Turkish control. In 2020 tensions went high again after Ankara discovered gas fields off Cyprus. Since then, the Turkish President has regularly threatened Greece.

The other dispute began in September 2022, when Turkey accused Greece of obstructing Turkish fighter jet from the S-300 air defense system, which is stationed on the island of Crete.

In case of any decision regarding the sales to be taken, Menendez stressed it will be “in the next week.”

Meanwhile, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that Joe Biden will move forward with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with congress.