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The United States has approved a $23 billion (18 billion) deal to sell state-of-the-art F-16 fighter jets to Turkey after it backed Swedens accession to Nato.

Turkeys parliament voted to ratify the Scandinavian countrys membership of the alliance on Tuesday after delaying the decision for more than a year.

Its air force is now set to receive 40 new F-16s and upgrades for the 79 models it already has as part of the multi-billion dollar agreement.

These new and refurbished aircraft will provide Turkey with a fleet of modernised multi-role combat aircraft to enable it to provide for the defence of its airspace, contribute to Nato missions to preserve regional security and defend Nato allies, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

Hungary is now the only Nato member that has not approved Swedens application to join Nato.

On Tuesday, Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, invited Ulf Kristersson, his Swedish counterpart, to Budapest to negotiate.

Nato hopes Sweden will be formally welcomed into the alliance by April, almost two years after it first applied to join in May 2022 in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkeys president, originally objected to its application and accused Stockholm of supporting Kurdish separatist organisations that Ankara says are terrorist groups.

Sweden responded by tightening anti-terror laws and making other security concessions demanded by Turkey.

Mr Erdoğan then demanded the US fulfil a pledge to deliver F-16 fighters that had been bogged down in Congress over allegations that Turkey was becoming more authoritarian.

Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, refused to hand over the F-16s unless Turkey approved Sweden joining Nato.

Fellow Nato member Greece will also receive 40 of the more advanced F-35 fighter jets worth $8.6 billion (6.7 billion) as part of the deal.

It had initially opposed the sale of F-16s to Turkey because of unresolved territorial disputes with Ankara in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean region.

The US Congress has 15 days to review the deal but it is not expected to oppose it.

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US will sell F-16s to Turkey after Erdogan backs Sweden's Nato bid - Yahoo News