The Foreign Ministers of the USA and Turkey, Anthony Blinken and Hakan Fidan, had a heated meeting in London, with the former stating that the relationship between the two countries is important.

As SKAI correspondent Manolis Kostidis reports from IstanbulBlinken asked Fidan to finish the issue of Sweden’s NATO membership, while Turkey raised the issue of F-16s again.

Putin’s visit to Turkey and meeting with Erdogan

As Manolis Kostidis mentioned, the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July will be preceded by a visit of Vladimir Putin to Turkey where he will have a meeting with Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey’s line is also expected to be decided there, as Russia in recent years has been a “financier” of the neighboring country, which is the only one that has not imposed sanctions on Russia for the war in Ukraine.

Turkish analysts: To get the F-16s we have to convince the Congress

Meanwhile, Turkish analysts are worried about new delays from Washington on the issue of F-16s that are vital to the Turkish air force.

Afsin Yurdakul, a journalist, reports: “As much as they say that the F-16 is an independent issue from the developments in NATO, we do not know how much this is so. At the Blinken-Fidan meeting, how can you influence the developments in matters concerning defense”.

For his part, Hasan Koni, a professor of international relations, emphasized: “They can decide to give us the F-16s when we accept Sweden’s accession, but on this specific issue, Congress must be satisfied and convinced.” There are many different lobbies there. There is the lobby of the Armenians, the Greeks, the arms producers and many other lobbies.”

The difference F-16 BLOCK-70 makes compared to other fighters

At the same time, Turkish analysts report that Turkey claims 40 fighters and wants to modernize another 79, adding that Greece will already have 12 and is receiving another 3 F-16 BLOCK-70s.

Military analyst Erai Gutzluer comments: “The difference of the F-16 Block-70 is the active radar system. This system is used on the F-35, F-22 and Block 70. It is not present on the other fighters.

With this radar, the pilot can identify enemy targets with an accuracy of one square meter. We are talking about the F-16 Block-70. Not present in previous models. There is something in them too but not with this precision. It is at a longer range and with a higher frequency. Their second property is that they can locate targets with heat, without the use of radar. And because it does not use the radar frequency, the aircraft is not detected. It becomes invisible. Is important.

We are asking for 40 F-16 Block 70 against the amount we had given. We also requested parts and kits to fully upgrade our 79 F-16s to Block-70 level. In other words, without buying new aircraft, we will upgrade them to the Block-70 level.”

The Turkish frigate Istanbul is important for the future of the Blue Motherland

Finally, the Turkish media refer to Ankara’s plan for four new frigates.

Turkish TV network Haber Turk reports:

“The Istanbul frigate is the first Turkish frigate designed by Turkish shipbuilders and for the first time it has started its sea trial journey. The specific plan with the frigates is of great importance for the future of the “Blue Homeland”. Let’s look at the characteristics of the ship:

This ship is part of the Ada corvette program expansion of the Milgem (National Ship) project and is the first ship of the class. The Istanbul frigate is of great value as most of its weapons and electronic systems are of national production.

The frigate has the capability of anti-submarine warfare, naval air defense, surveillance, reconnaissance patrol, target detection. The length of the national frigate was extended in relation to ships of the same class.”