Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar . File photoANKARA, Jan 23The talks between Turkey and the United States in Washington on the supply of F-16 fighters went well, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said. Earlier, CNN-Turk, citing its American sources, reported that The United States may approve Turkey's request for the purchase of F-16 fighter jets to strengthen NATO allies in the Black Sea. «…Formal requests were made for the supply and modernization of new F-16s. After that, a delegation went to the United States, the negotiations were positive. We clearly stated their position. They explained that this will also help strengthen NATO. If Turkey is strong, it is strong in NATO. Turkey's strength is NATO's strength,» Turkish newspaper Milliyet quoted Akar as saying. The United States had previously sent an official notice to Turkey about its exclusion from the supply program for the latest F-35 fighters due to Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. The US canceled the joint memorandum on the F-35 signed by Turkey in January 2007, signing it with the seven remaining partners in the F-35 project — the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Norway. The Turkish President has said that the United States offered his country to buy F-16 fighters after it was excluded from the F-35 supply program. unfortunate» the resumption of flights of F-16 fighters
