With the intention of speeding up Ankara’s purchase of United States F-16 Fighter Jets, Turkey rushes to conclude the ratification of Sweden’s membership to NATO. The United States is acting swiftly to complete the ratification process after almost 20 months of delays from Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey initially stood their ground in their opposition to Sweden’s membership due to the threat to Ankara from Kurdish groups in Swedish territory. After a long negotiation, NATO and Sweden agreed to strengthen antiterrorism laws that address Turkey’s concerns, contributing to their decision to consent to Sweden’s bid for membership. A core motivational factor for their support stems from the recent 20 billion sales of Lockheed Martin F-16s and modernization kits. With the focus turned to Sweden’s possible NATO membership, the United States has approved F-16 Fighter Jet sales to a nation that holds great controversies when it comes to weaponry. Reuters reports that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was “delighted” by the decision and looks “forward to receiving the instruments in Washington and welcoming Sweden as NATO’s 32nd Ally.” Although Turkey’s consent coerces Sweden a step closer to membership, Hungary is revealed to be the last ally that is needed to approve. With the United States eager to push for democratic regimes, Turkey will soon hold the military force to conduct damage by virtue of the U.S.

There was great tension within the United States Congress pertaining to the selling of arms in Turkey, especially due to their persistent pressure on the speed of the process. In the past, Turkey has utilized the U.S. F-16 fighter jets to attack Syria on behalf of Kurdish groups, ultimately impeding international law. Due to Turkey’s human rights record, Congress was initially hesitant to grant them F-16s. Yet, their decision to approve the sale was backed by the hope for stronger and tighter alliances within the allied nations. This notion holds much controversy since the endowment of F-16s has the capacity to cause major humanitarian damage. Turkey’s economic ties with disputable actors globally cause concern. Rather than utilizing the fighter jets to support NATO operations, Turkey’s possession of them increases the threat to its neighbors. However, this contingency is reliant on Turkey’s effort to improve its human rights record as well as support for Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia. In efforts to accelerate Sweden’s accession into NATO, the United States has failed to take into account these posed threats. Their attempt to ratify Swedish membership fails to address Turkey’s issue with the Kurds, as well as the negative implication of their low human rights record. The CATO Institute reports that during the height of the Gaza crisis, “Turkey escalated its attacks against civilians in Northern Syria.” These risky actions expose Turkey as a liability to NATO rather than an asset. Persistent pressures for rapid steps towards the U.S. Congress endorsement raise concerns for Turkey’s incentive. Although Sweden is one step closer to NATO membership, it is questioned whether advancing Turkey’s military will be beneficial or problematic. It seems as though NATO allies are not monitoring Turkish forces to the extent that they should be. Granting F-16 fighter jets to a risky nation in return for their consent to Swedish ratification could have unintended consequences that may not emerge until it is too late.

Since the F-16 and modernization kit purchase is already in process, the best thing for NATO nations to do is monitor Turkey’s use of them. Turkey’s past tendencies to ignore NATO alliance commitments as well as abuse weapon sales should have deterred the United States away from this specific deal. The ideal solution would be for the United States to back down from this sale and attempt to negotiate a way for Turkey to consent to Sweden’s ratification without the motive of the F-16 sale. Although this would delay the ratification process, it would limit the potential conflicts that could arise from Turkey’s F-16 possession. The process of ratifying Sweden’s membership is ideal for stronger military ties, so finding alternate ways to gain Turkey’s support would be the best option. The human rights abuses that derive from this sale only exacerbate the likelihood of conflicts. A peaceful world is essential for stronger alliances, and NATO strives to ensure long-lasting peace. Turkey’s impedance to NATO’s core values substantiates the dangerous outcomes that can emerge from their ownership of new weaponry. The most beneficial thing to do would be to add conditions to the sale in the event that Turkey attempts to violate international law. These conditions can possibly enforce permanent consequences or cancellations of weapons if they are used for anything other than NATO’s interests. Additionally, since Hungary is in the process of consenting to the ratification of Sweden into NATO, all focus should be towards a cooperative and peaceful transaction between the U.S. and Turkey. Enforcing peace and combating violence between nations should be NATO’s main priority. By ensuring that Turkey does not take advantage of the U.S. F-16 fighter jets through moderation and limitations, tensions can soften while Sweden can enter NATO peacefully. A key premise is that Turkey’s neighboring nations are safe and protected, and through these limitations the U.S. can ensure that the threat of conflict stays mitigated.