Erdogan asserts Turkey's commitment to NATO bid, conditional on F-16 sales, in remarks during Azerbaijan visit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Turkey's parliament will fulfill its promise to ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid, provided the United States follows through on F-16 fighter jet sales to Ankara. Erdogan made this statement while speaking to reporters on his return flight from Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave.

The Turkish leader revealed that discussions between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took place last week in New York, where the U.S. administration conveyed its intention to link the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey with the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership.

"If they (the U.S.) keep their promises, our parliament will keep its own promise as well. Turkish parliament will have the final say on Sweden's NATO membership," President Erdogan affirmed.

This announcement highlights Turkey's pivotal role in influencing Sweden's NATO aspirations and further underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region. As the situation develops, Turkey's parliament is poised to play a significant role in the decision-making process regarding Sweden's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.