Turkey regrets the US blockade on the sale of F-16 fighters and claims to be an important ally

MADRID, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)

The Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, on Tuesday lamented the blockade by the United States Congress on the sale of F-16 fighters to Ankara and stated that it is an important ally and that these demands are part of the relations of NATO.

When asked about the decision of the US congressmen, who have given their approval to a measure that restricts the sale of these aircraft to Turkey, the Turkish minister has expressed that he hopes that “the United States does not play this game”.

Thus, he pointed out that these measures are being analyzed and addressed “closely”, especially given the possible influence of Greece on these issues given the disputes that both countries maintain, especially in the Aegean area.

For him, Athens has taken the matter to “dimensions that cannot be explained within the framework of international relations” and has accused the Greek government of trying to influence the agreement reached by the parties for the “modernization of the F-16 “, according to information from the Anatolia news agency.

In this sense, he stressed that the Turkish demands are related to its role in NATO and emphasized its importance when it comes to starting dialogues and fighting terrorism and migration.

“How would you explain the situation? A group of people have mixed things up due to manipulation and misinformation. We hope that the United States does not play this game,” he said before emphasizing that in order to achieve a “strong” Atlantic Alliance, it is necessary that “its members be strong”.

Akar has stated that the parties continue to work “within the logical parameters between military delegations.” “We continue to work militarily, politically and diplomatically. Our hope is that common sense prevails and that logical and reasonable solutions appear,” he said.

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