A senior US official said the US president had played a behind-the-scenes role in Sweden and Finland’s negotiations with Turkey.
Turkey has welcomed Turkey’s agreement with Sweden and Finland, which paves the way for NATO membership, but has made clear that its demands for advanced fighter jets were left out of the agreement.
The United States has welcomed the deal, stressing that Turkey’s green light gives “strong impetus” to Western unity.
At the same time, a high-ranking US official said that the US president played a backstage role in the negotiations between Sweden and Finland with Turkey.
He emphasized, however, that Turkey did not insist on including in the negotiations its demands for advanced american fighters. Biden and Erdogan are expected to meet on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday.
Turkey stopped arguing over Finland and Sweden joining NATO in time for the alliance’s annual summit in Madrid. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that Biden spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about NATO earlier Tuesday at the request of both countries.
The official said the agreement would allow the 30-member alliance to expand and signal “a significant change in security stance”.
It is noted that Ankara has requested from the US 40 F-16 Block 70, while requesting an upgrade for 80 F-16 fighters it already has. However, the climate in Congress for the neighbor is not favorable.
“Turkey got what it wanted”
Very pleased with the agreement with Sweden and Finland, which effectively secures the Nordic countries’ accession to NATO, Ankara appeared earlier. “Turkey got what it wanted,” said sources in the Turkish presidency.
“Turkey has secured the ‘full co-operation’ of Finland and Sweden against the PKK and its allies, as well as the commitment to take concrete steps to extradite those accused of terrorist acts.” The three countries have reportedly agreed to step up co-operation in the defense industry and lift any restrictions (embargoes). They will also set up a structured intelligence-sharing mechanism to fight terrorism.
It was also agreed that “the demonstration of solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” is emphasized, as stated by the SKAI correspondent in Istanbul Manolis Kostidis.
Details of what was agreed according to Ankara
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