Biden and Erdogan will discuss the upgraded F-16 Block 70/72 deal at a cost of $20 billion

John Kirby said last week that the US wants to move forward with the sale of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters to Turkey. President Joe Biden also commented on the situation.

The US President said he spoke by phone with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday and congratulated him on his victory in the Turkish presidential elections. According to Biden, Ankara is still planning to buy F-16 fighter jets. In turn, the United States wants Turkey not to prevent Sweden from joining NATO.

Turkey has sought to buy F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters, after upgrading them to Block 70/72. The potential deal is valued at $20 billion. Türkiye also wants 80 kits to upgrade its current aircraft, worth $259 million.

Ankara decided to purchase the F-16 after it was excluded from the fifth-generation fighter jet development program, the F-35 Lightning II. This was due to Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems.