Turkiye looking forward to positive outcome of F-16 deal with US

Turkiye is counting on a positive decision on the sale of F-16 fighter jets by the US. Otherwise, it may resort to alternative options to meet its needs for military aircraft, Ibrahim Kalin, official representative of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said in an interview with Kriter magazine, Report informs.

“We hope that the process of approval by the US Congress of the deal will begin in January. This is in the interests of not only Turkiye, but also the US and NATO. Otherwise, we have the ability and determination to take the necessary steps to cover our national security needs,” Kalin said.

The representative of Erdogan reminded that the delegations of Turkiye and the US in 2022 held a series of technical negotiations on the F-16 issue, and called them constructive.

In addition, US President Joe Biden promised personal support in this matter to Erdogan, Kalin said. “As a result, we expect the Congress to act rationally, and not be guided by momentary political interests,” the representative of the Turkish president said.