ISTANBUL: Türkiye is focused on the F-16 warplanes rather than F-35s, the Turkish president said in a statement on Monday.
“We are locked on the F-16s rather than the F-35s,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at his Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) headquarters in the capital Ankara.
“We discussed with US senators the steps we will take on the F-16s,” he said, referring to a recent visit to Türkiye by senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Murphy.
The president also said the Turkish government, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is continuing talks with their US counterparts on the warplanes.
On Jan. 27, the US State Department approved the pending $23 billion sale of F-16 aircraft and modernization kits to Türkiye after Ankara greenlighted Sweden’s NATO membership.
Türkiye in October 2021 requested from the US 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft, as well as 79 modernization kits to upgrade its remaining F-16s to Block 70 level.
Türkiye was part of the F-35 program before its participation was suspended over a dispute on Ankara buying S-500 Russian air defense after its efforts to buy US Patriot missiles were rebuffed.
A senior US diplomat recently appeared to open the door to Türkiye perhaps joining the F-35 program if the dispute were resolved.
