Turkey's efforts to secure the State Department's approval for the F-16 fighter jet sale are nearing fruition and could come as soon as today, well-informed sources familiar with the process told Al-Monitor on condition they not be identified by name.
Turkey is expected to submit documents to the State Department on Friday related to the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership that was approved by the Turkish Parliament on Tuesday, according to the same sources.
The sources said the State Department will in turn formally notify the US Congress of the pending sale of around 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Greece and 40 new F-16s as well as 80 modernization kits to Turkey, the sources said, adding that the notification could take place as early as today.
Turkey's ratification went into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette early Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s blessings.
