Erdogan: Positive signals from US, Canada can help Türkiye push Sweden into NATO

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said that positive developments on the US sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, and Canada's arms embargo, would help Türkiye’s parliament move toward ratifying Sweden's NATO membership bid.

After long-time non-alignment, Sweden and Finland asked to join NATO last year after Russia invaded Ukraine. But NATO member Türkiye raised objections over what it said was the two countries' protection of groups that Ankara deems terrorists.

Türkiye endorsed Finland's membership bid in April but, along with Hungary, it has kept Sweden waiting.

"Positive developments we expect both on (procuring US) F-16s and Canada's promises (on lifting its arms embargo) would help our parliament to have a positive approach on Sweden... All of them are linked," Erdogan told reporters on a flight returning from Hungary, Reuters reports, citing a text shared by his office.

Türkiye asked in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes.

US President Joe Biden's administration backs the $20-billion sale, but there have been objections in the US Congress over Türkiye delaying Sweden's entry into NATO and over its human rights record.

Canada, for its part, quietly agreed to re-open talks with its NATO ally Türkiye on lifting export controls on drone parts, including optical equipment, after Erdogan signalled in July that Sweden would get the green light from Ankara.

Erdogan said that he discussed the issue of Sweden's NATO accession with US President Joe Biden in a call last week.

"In the call, Mr. [Joe] Biden said: 'You pass this [Sweden's NATO bid] from the parliament and I will get it (F-16 sale) passed from the Congress'," Erdogan said.