The United States has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye after Turkish Grand National Assembly ratified Sweden’s NATO membership. The State Department notified U.S. Congress of the $23bn agreement to sell the aircraft, modernization kits, and other equipment. These developments indicate that we are nearing the conclusion of the long-debated F-16 issue which should have been a rather routine and less politicized arms deal between the two NATO allies. Many observers regard the sale of F-16s a glimmer of hope for improving bilateral ties. The sale might serve as an opportunity to begin a new chapter by addressing mutual distrust and promoting cooperation between the two countries.

What are the remaining steps for the completion of the sale? What is the importance of the F-16s for Türkiye’s security needs? What are the implications of the F-16 deal’s for the U.S.-Türkiye defense relations, and how does this influence their broader partnership? Will this momentum spillover to other issue areas where significant differences remain?

The SETA Foundation in Washington DC is pleased to convene a panel of experts to discuss the F-16 deal’s implications for the U.S.-Türkiye relations.

Speakers

Burhanettin Duran, General Coordinator, The SETA Foundation

Mustafa Kibaroglu, Professor of International Relations, MEF University

Kadir Ustun, Executive Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC

Moderator

Kilic Kanat, Research Director, The SETA Foundation at Washington DC