New development in US F-16 sale to Turkey! Official statement released

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated in a written announcement that the US Department of State has sent the official notification to Congress approving the sale of 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 79 F-16 modernization kits to Turkey.

The statement included the following: "The Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Türkiye of F-16 aircraft and modernization and related equipment for an estimated cost of 23 billion dollars." It was noted that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification to Congress today.

Emphasizing that the F-16 sale to Turkey is important for the security and stability of NATO, the statement indicated that 40 new F-16 fighter jets, 79 F-16 modernization kits, and related equipment will be provided to Ankara.

For the arms sale to proceed, there must be no objection from Congress to the sale notification submitted by the US administration.

APPROVAL FOR THE SALE FROM THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Furthermore, Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which has oversight authority regarding arms sales to foreign countries, announced that he would approve the sale of F-16s to Turkey.

At the same time, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also issued a statement on the matter, expressing his satisfaction with Ankara's approval of Sweden's NATO membership and stating that they would approve the sale of F-16s to Turkey under the current circumstances.

CONGRESS HAS 15 DAYS FOR REVIEW

The US Congress has a 15-day legal period to review the sale; if there is no objection during this time, the sale is officially finalized.

According to the relevant law, this period is specified as 15 days for NATO member countries and 30 days for non-NATO countries.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee have the right to review and, if necessary, object to arms sales to foreign countries.

Turkey had requested 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and modernization kits for 79 aircraft in its inventory from the US. Last year, additional clauses that conditioned the sale of F-16s, introduced by some members of Congress, were removed from the US Department of Defense budget bill.