US President Joe Biden did not put the conditions for Greece before Ankara on the sale of F-16 fighter Ankara, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, answering questions from journalists who accompanied him on a trip to Tehran.
“We announced the need for mutual support of NATO member countries,” he said.
Erdogan expressed regret in connection with the presence of a small group of legislators in the House of US representatives opposing the defense agreement with Ankara: “In my opinion, the conditions put forward (for supply F – 16 to Turkey) are not obliging for Ankara. The main thing is that They supported the proposal and transferred new F – 16. Our country is able to repair military aircraft in service. There are no problems in this matter. “
He also noted that much in the USA depends on the intermediate elections planned for November.
Earlier, the House of Representatives of the US Congress voted to amend the defense budget, which will complicate the transfer of Turkey F-16 fighters, demanding that Ankara would not invade them into the airspace of Greece. “For” 244 congressmen voted, against – 179. Representatives of the Democratic Party Frank Pallon and Chris Papas made the initiative. Recall that the United States excluded Turkey from the F-16 production program for the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-400.