By Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department approved Friday the pending $23 billion sale of F-16 aircraft and modernization kits to Türkiye, sending formal notification to Congress.
The approval came after Türkiye submitted documents related to Sweden’s NATO membership protocol after it was ratified Tuesday by the Turkish Parliament.
Türkiye made a request to the US in October 2021 to purchase the latest model F-16 Block 70 aircraft, as well as 79 modernization kits to upgrade its remaining F-16s to Block 70 level.
The State Department informally notified Congress last January of the F-16 fighter jet sale but key lawmakers on Capitol Hill have vowed to nix the deal because of several demands, including making the purchase contingent on Ankara's approval of Sweden's NATO membership bid.
Congress has the right to object to the State Department's determination within 15 business days for sale approvals granted to NATO members, including Türkiye, a member of the alliance for more than 70 years.
Senate Foreign Relations Chair Ben Cardin said in a statement Friday that he would permit the sale after Ankara's ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
Sen. Jim Risch, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in late October that he would drop his objection to the sale after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a greenlight to Sweden's bid to join NATO.