The Turkish presidential liaison department said that US President Joe Biden confirmed, during his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan - today, Tuesday - on the sidelines of the G20 summit on the Indonesian island of (Bali), that his administration will continue to support the sale of F-16 fighter jets. -16) to Turkey.
The department stated in a statement that Erdogan and Biden discussed during their meeting bilateral relations, especially trade and security issues, and the US President also expressed his condolences for the victims of the bombing that occurred on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, the day before yesterday, Sunday.
Ankara submitted a request to Washington in October 2021 to purchase 40 F-16 fighters, manufactured by the American company, Lockheed Martin, and equipment for its current warplanes, to modernize its air force, after the failure to purchase F-15s. 35" (F-35).
And a spokesman for the Turkish president stated earlier this month that the procedures for approving the deal in the United States might be completed within two months, after the process had faced obstacles in the US Congress.
Erdogan said last month that if the United States does not meet his country's need for F-16 fighters, there are many countries that can do so.
For its part, the White House said today that President Biden expressed his appreciation to his Turkish counterpart for his efforts to extend work on the Black Sea initiative to export grain from Ukrainian ports.
The White House added that the two presidents agreed on the crucial role of this initiative in improving global food security, in the midst of the Russian war on Ukraine, and the need to continue working with it.