Everything Turkey’s FM said with Blinken – Diplomatic haggling over F-16s and NATO enlargement

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu visited Washington and had a bilateral meeting with his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, where, among other things, the purchase and modernization of F-16s was discussed. The Turkish official had a difficult mission and cultivated high expectations, while also putting Greece on the “menu”.

He is not leaving completely empty-handed, since the joint US-Turkey statement on the meeting states that the two men “discussed strengthening US-Turkey defense cooperation, including the modernization of Turkey’s F-16 fleet.”

A little earlier, the State Department turned a blind eye to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, stating that “the existing sanctions of the CAATSA law do not prohibit the sale of F-16s to Turkey, as long as the Defense Industry Presidency (SSB)  is not a contracting party as it the sanctions”.

Whining and barbs against Sen. Menendez

Turkey’s foreign minister, after his meeting with his American counterpart, said that the important thing in the issue of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara is whether the Biden administration will show determination. At the same time, he expressed his annoyance at Menendez’s interventions.

The Biden administration may have given in to the sale of upgraded F-16s to Ankara, however, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and also a Democrat, Robert Menendez, is reacting and not hiding it. After all, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is the committee responsible for approving defense contracts, and its chairman has the power to veto because of his position.

“What is important here is whether the (US) government will show determination or not… If it takes a firm stand against any measures to prevent it (the sale of F-16s to Turkey), the issue will be resolved,” he said. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu after the meeting he had with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken, Turkish public television TRT reported.

Citing the “common strategic interests” of the US and Turkey, the head of Turkish diplomacy said that the US government “should not waste such an important agreement between two allies, just because someone (hinting at Bob Menendez) or some persons prevent her. He must not submit,” Cavusoglu said.

The diplomatic game with F-16s and NATO enlargement

The Turkish foreign minister said, moreover, that he made it clear to his American counterpart that the lifting of Ankara’s objections to the prospect of Sweden and Finland joining NATO should not be a prerequisite for the acquisition of the F-16s. He noted, however, that it was pointed out to him that the removal of the obstacles placed by Ankara on this specific issue will be positively considered by Congress.

Ankara’s refusal to ratify the protocol for the accession of Sweden and Finland to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has heightened the concern of the deal’s critics in Congress.

And Greece is on the menu

Çavuşoğlu also said that he urged the White House to maintain an even-distance policy towards Turkey and Greece, demonstrating Ankara’s discomfort with the US’s intention to sell F-35s to Greece.

He described the meeting with Blinken as “constructive”. He also mentioned that during the meeting he had with Blinken, he invited the US Secretary of State to visit Turkey. It is recalled that the head of American diplomacy will visit Greece on February 20-21 and will have contacts of high strategic importance.

The US-Turkey joint statement

The issue of F-16s is mentioned at the same time in the joint US-Turkey statement after the meeting that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had with the Turkish counterpart of Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington, which was released by the State Department.

“US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held the fourth meeting of the US-Turkey Strategic Mechanism on January 18, 2023 in Washington.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland also met with Turkish Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs Sedat Onal under the auspices of the Strategic Mechanism.

The two sides held extensive dialogue in a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation and emphasized the importance of partnership as a NATO Ally.

Minister Blinken and Minister Çavuşoğlu continued interagency discussions held by senior officials from the US State Department and the Turkish Foreign Ministry on January 17, 2023, in Washington.

Foreign Minister Blinken and Minister Çavuşoğlu reiterated their commitment to a results-oriented positive bilateral agenda.

They discussed strengthening US-Turkey defense cooperation, including the modernization of Turkey’s F-16 fleet.”

Ukraine and Eastern Mediterranean

According to the joint statement, the two men “underlined their strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine against Russia’s unacceptable war and reaffirmed their support for finding a solution to end the war.” The United States thanked Turkey for its role in brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The two ministers decided to increase coordination and cooperation to promote peace in the South Caucasus.

Minister Blinken and Minister Çavuşoğlu discussed ways to strengthen NATO coordination and solidarity in the face of current threats and challenges. They reaffirmed their longstanding commitment to collective defense as Allies, as well as to NATO’s Open Door Policy.

They discussed the implementation of the tripartite memorandum signed by Finland, Sweden and Turkey to promote the application of Finland and Sweden to join the NATO Alliance.

Minister Blinken and Minister Çavuşoğlu discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and agreed on the importance of maintaining stability and communication channels.”