YouTube: https://youtu.be/d21IZk3LrsI
Last month, President Joe Biden's administration requested Congress accept a new weapons contract with Turkey.
Turkey's existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets would receive missiles, radar, and electronics as part of the deal.
Turkey is also trying to strike a considerably larger, separate agreement with the US for 40 new F-16 fighter jets, valued around $6 billion, in addition to the currently proposed the missile and components sale.
The Biden administration reportedly stated that an F-16 sale with NATO member Turkey serves the bloc's interests. However, numerous US politicians who have raised concerns about Turkey's human rights record are likely to oppose the proposed agreements.
Nonetheless, progress on the agreements is noteworthy, given the fact that the US and Turkey had a major falling out in 2017 after Turkey purchased Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. As a result, the United States imposed sanctions on Turkey and excluded it from the F-35 fighter jet program.
The F-16 parts transaction comes as Turkey tries to repair its image in Washington, by leveraging its self-declared role as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia.
Since Russia's invasion began, top officials from Ukraine and Russia have met in Turkey for peace talks multiple times. However, Ukraine and Russia have been unable to reach an agreement on cease-fire terms.
Turkey also supplied Ukraine with weaponized drones after Russia invaded, which have since been utilized against Russian troops, which also helps increase its standing with the US.
Accordingly, given Turkey’s role in the Ukraine crisis, the US and Turkey have revived what some refer to as their dormant ‘strategic dialogue.’
