Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expects Washington to “simultaneously” approve the sale of F-16 jets to Ankara in exchange for ratifying Sweden’s stalled bid to join the Nato alliance.
Erdoğan said he had done his “duty” by referring Sweden’s Nato accession decision to the Turkish parliament in October, but now he expects US Congress to concurrently approve Turkey’s request to buy billions of dollars worth of F-16 fighter jets and modernisation kits.
“As the president, I referred [Sweden’s Nato bid] to the parliament and you thanked me,” Erdoğan said he told his western counterparts, according to comments reported by Turkish media on Wednesday. “I have done my duty, but I expect something from you, too . . . You should simultaneously pass this issue through your Congress.”