Pentagon 'fully supports' F-16 sale to Turkey
The Biden administration publicly endorsed a plan to sell Turkey fresh fighter jets just a day after Ankara dropped its objection to Sweden and Finland joining NATO over ties to Kurdish groups.
Just a day after Turkey said it would accept Sweden's and Finland’s bids to join the NATO alliance, the Biden administration reaffirmed its intent to sell dozens of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara to upgrade its existing fleet.
Celeste Wallander, the Pentagon’s top official on international security affairs, told reporters on Wednesday that the Pentagon “fully supports Turkey’s modernization plans for its F-16 fleet.”
“These plans are in the works. As you know, they need to be worked through our contracting processes,” Wallander said during a conference call.
“The United States supports Turkey’s modernization of its fighter (aircraft) fleet because that is a contribution to NATO security and therefore American security,” she said.
