Biden Admin To Approve Sale Of F-16 Modernisation Package To Turkey

Reuters reporting "sources familiar with the matter" stating that the US State Department is preparing to "formally notify Congress on the sale of a modernisation package to Turkey for its existing F16 aircraft."

• According to Reuters, the notification could be sent as soon as today.
• There is considerable opposition in Congress to any significant arms sales to Ankara with US Senators from both parties citing close links with Russia, military action in Syria, and belicose rhetoric directed towards fellow NATO ally Greece as grounds to withhold defence sales.
• A bipartisan group of 29 Senators wrote to President Biden in February arguing that no F-16 related sale should be granted until Turkey agreed to ratify the NATO bids of Finland and Sweden.
• The senators wrote: "Once the NATO accession protocols are ratified by Türkiye, Congress can consider the sale of F-16 fighter jets. A failure to do so, however, would call into question this pending sale."
• Despite the opposition it is unlikely that 60 Senators will oppose the sale to overcome a presidential veto.