Erdogan Disturbed by "American Approach"

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed today that the American administration is linking the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey with Ankara's approval of Sweden's request to join NATO, indicating that this approach is causing "significant discomfort" to his country. Erdogan stated at a press conference after the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, that he held a "mini" meeting with his American counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the summit, during which they discussed the issue of supplying Turkey with F-16 jets. He mentioned that Biden connected the supply of the jets to Turkey's approval of Sweden's NATO membership request. Erdogan added, "This approach disturbs us greatly." He also told reporters, "If you say that Congress will make a decision regarding the sale of F-16 jets to Turkey, we have a Congress in Turkey as well, which is the Turkish Parliament." He emphasized that "it is not possible for me to unilaterally approve Sweden's NATO membership request unless our Parliament agrees to such a decision."