Türkiye has requested to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets as part of a broader military modernization effort. While the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain have approved the sale, Germany is reportedly blocking the deal.
According to the report, Berlin insists the sale will only proceed if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stops making statements about Greece and Türkiye drops its territorial claims over the Aegean islands.
Consortium approval required
Both Türkiye and Greece are NATO members, but their relations have been strained over territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea and many other issues. The relations started to improve recently with both countries showing goodwill.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is produced by a consortium that includes the U.K., Italy, Spain and Germany. All four countries must approve any sale of the jets. While the other consortium members have reportedly agreed, Germany’s veto can delay the deal. Without Germany’s consent, the sale cannot proceed.
Strategic importance of deal
Türkiye has been seeking to strengthen its air force through the acquisition of modern fighter jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon. The proposed deal comes as Türkiye faces challenges in upgrading its fleet following the U.S. decision to exclude it from the F-35 program due to Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system.
www.turkiyetoday.com