Blinken says US fighter jet sales to Turkey 'separate' from NATO demands
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he will meet with Turkish, Swedish and Finnish officials to discuss Ankara's demands.
The US administration considers potential fighter jet sales to Turkey “separate” from Ankara’s demands over Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified today.
“These are separate questions,” the top US diplomat said during a press conference alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.
Blinken was asked by a reporter whether the United States is willing to export fighter jets to Turkey to facilitate the two Nordic countries’ acceptance into the alliance.
Ankara has reportedly requested readmission to the F-35 program, from which it was expelled in 2019 for purchasing Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, as it threatens to block Sweden and Finland’s admission.
