Turkey Shifts Attention to US Warplanes Amid Bargaining on Sweden’s NATO Entry
Turkey has shifted its attention from the issue of Koran-burning to US warplanes as negotiations continue on Sweden’s entry into NATO. The deal between Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Swedish prime minister at a NATO summit seemed like a done deal, with promises made on both sides. However, as the Turkish parliament prepares to resume work, Erdoğan has now focused on the US selling high-tech F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. This demand has caused tension, as the US has linked the F-16 deal to Sweden’s NATO bid. Both sides deny any linkage, but experts believe that the F-16 deal is crucial to Sweden’s NATO enlargement.
Turkish-US Defence Ties and the F-16 Deal
Turkey’s defence ties with the US soured four years ago when Turkey purchased an air-defence system from Russia instead of its NATO ally. Now, Erdoğan insists that Turkey should receive F-16s because it is the dominant military power in the region, capable of containing both Russia and China. However, the US Congress is reluctant to approve the sale until Turkey ratifies Sweden’s NATO entry, while Ankara does not want to give up its leverage without securing the F-16 deal.
EU Customs Perks and Visa-Free Travel
Erdoğan’s demands on EU customs perks and visa-free travel are unlikely to delay Sweden’s ratification. The European Commission stated that Nato issues have no influence on its technical talks on resolving trade irritants. Any progress on visa issues is expected to take months, with several benchmarks remaining unmet. Experts believe that Erdoğan would not risk damaging goodwill within NATO solely for his EU demands.
The Role of Hungary
The situation is further complicated by Hungary, the only other NATO state yet to ratify Sweden’s bid. Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó has promised not to delay any country in terms of NATO membership if Turkey shows movement. The Hungarian parliament is set to resume work, but it is unclear when they will vote on the matter. Observers believe that Hungary will not be the last NATO state to ratify and that they will coordinate with Turkey in negotiations.
The Issue of Koran-Burning
Erdoğan previously demanded that Sweden ban Koran-burning if it wants to join NATO. However, recent incidents of Koran-burning in Sweden have not prompted a strong response from Erdoğan. Experts suggest that these incidents may cause trouble in the NATO process, but for now, Erdoğan is not pushing the issue.
