US Ambassador's assessment on F-16s: A sign of interoperability
US Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake stated that the trade volume with Turkey is approaching 40 billion dollars and that US direct investments in Turkey have reached 15 billion dollars.
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Speaking at the Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia forum, organized annually by the US Department of Commerce and hosted by Turkey for the first time in 16 years, Flake addressed more than 300 local and foreign representatives from various sectors in Istanbul.
Stating that security is considered the most important item when discussing Turkey-US relations, Flake noted that American and Turkish forces fought together in Korea, and even shared that General Douglas MacArthur, who commanded United Nations (UN) forces during the first 9 months of the Korean War, said that fighting alongside Turkish soldiers gave American soldiers great courage.
CONGRESS APPROVED F-16 SALE TO TURKEY
Flake reminded that this is the 72nd year of Turkey's NATO membership, and that Turkey has the largest army and the largest air force within NATO after the US.
Stating that the US Congress's recent approval of the 23 billion dollar F-16 sale to Turkey demonstrates interoperability in Turkey-NATO relations, Flake noted that American and Turkish defense industry companies have signed agreements, and that in the near future, approximately one-third of all artillery shells in the US inventory will be of Turkish origin.
Flake stated that 1.5 million US citizens will visit Turkey this year, and that the target for next year is 2 million, adding the following:
If you want a place where East meets West, this is where you want to be. If you want to swim along thousands of miles of magnificent coastline, Turkish waters are where you want to be. If you want to eat at a restaurant older than the country in which it was founded, this is where you want to be.`
“US DIRECT INVESTMENT IS 15 BILLION DOLLARS"
Emphasizing that commercial ties between the two countries are becoming increasingly tight, Flake said, “Trade in goods and services has approached 40 billion dollars. US investments in Turkey have reached 15 billion dollars. There are significant Turkish investments in the US, and they are growing. There are also significant opportunities for US-Turkey partnerships in countries in regions such as Central Asia and South America. In short, a lot is happening.”