President Erdoğan criticizes US over delaying F-16 sales

BRUSSELS

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has criticized the United States for delaying the sales of F-16 fighter jets and for its continued support to the YPG in northern Syria, vowing that he will bring these issues to the attention of U.S. President Joe Biden when they meet in Madrid on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.

A large Turkish delegation under the leadership of Erdoğan went to Spain to attend the NATO leaders’ summit that will take place on June 29 and 30. At a press conference before his departure, Erdoğan said he exchanged a phone conversation with Biden on the agenda of the NATO summit.

According to a statement by the Turkish Presidency, the two leaders discussed bilateral issues and some regional matters. White House, in its statement, informed that Biden looks forward “to seeing President Erdoğan at the NATO Summit in Madrid where leaders will discuss the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for Transatlantic security and other threats to the Alliance such as terrorism, as well as take historic decisions to strengthen the Alliance’s collective defense and security.”

More information about the summit and his conversation with Biden regarding the Turkish-American ties came from Erdoğan during the press conference. Recalling that one of the most important issues discussed between Ankara and Washington is the former’s request of purchasing 40 new F-16 warplanes and 80 modernization kits for its exiting fleets, Erdoğan said, “Our most talk with the U.S. is about F-16s. But the process is being delayed.”

Arms support to YPG continues

Erdoğan said a meeting with Biden could take place in Madrid, where he would raise all these issues, including the American military support to the YPG in northern Syria. “What did NATO do after all these weapons were delivered to these terrorists? Truckloads of weapons came from the U.S. I will raise it once again in our meeting [with Biden]: We are two countries standing shoulder-to-shoulder in NATO, why these weapons are being given to terrorists?” Erdoğan stressed.

Meanwhile, "we do expect at some point tomorrow that President Erdoğan and President Biden will have a chance to talk," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said aboard Air Force One.

Erdoğan also repeated that the U.S. has established nine military bases in Greece. “When we ask about them, you say, ‘They are against Russia.’ What actions have you shown against Russia from there? Well, how about these weapons [delivered to the YPG]? Against whom are they being used?” he asked.

The U.S. has been partnering with the YPG in the fight against ISIL since 2015. Türkiye considers the YPG as the PKK’s offshoot in Syria, and therefore, a terrorist organization.

Türkiye wants results not words

On Sweden and Finland’s bid to join NATO, Erdoğan recalled that these two Nordic states should meet the demands tabled by Türkiye on the fight against terror in order to move forward with their accession process.

“We don’t want just word, we want results. We are tired of this. For now, they are just talking. But on the day we talk, they run an interview with the head of the terror organization on the Swedish state TV,” he said.

Türkiye has been a member of NATO for the past 70 years and one of the top five countries actively contributing to the alliance, the president stated, adding, “At the same time, we are a country that plays a critical role in the prevention of terrorism and migration movements, especially from Syria.”

“In Madrid, we will confirm the importance we attach to the alliance, especially in this period where threats are increasing and diversifying,” Erdoğan said, adding he will also hold bilateral talks with some NATO leaders.

The exception will be Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the president stated on a question. Recalling Türkiye canceled a high-level strategic cooperation meeting with Greece after Mitsotakis’ anti-Türkiye statements at the U.S. Congress, Erdoğan said: “We have closed this door. Afterward, they will pull themselves together. We will draw our own road map if they pull themselves together.”