Backstage of the F-16 process
is experiencing a similar situation THE GLOBE to the period that led to the Second World War in the last century.
On the one hand, some countries are protectors of the order they constructed; on the other hand, some revisionists chase a new order more suitable for their interests.
However, when it comes to Israel, the U.S. and accompanying countries have ignored the order they have constructed.
The United Nations (UN) was established as one of the most critical actors of the international order after the Second World War. As the U.S. was the primary founding member, the UN headquarters is still in New York.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a court that was established under the umbrella of the UN. South Africa, a UN member, filed a case at the International Court of Justice against another UN member, Israel, due to its military operations in Gaza after the October 7 attacks.
The ICJ decided on an interim injunction on ongoing Israeli operations following the first phase of the case. The court ruled that Israel must immediately terminate genocidal operations in Gaza and ensure immediate access to basic services needed by people living in the region.
THE COURT WARNED ISRAEL; THE U.S. RESPONDED
Interestingly, the first response to the International Court of Justice’s decision came from another country that isn’t directly related to it, the U.S.
The U.S. announced that it had suspended its financial support to UNRWA, which is an international organization established under the umbrella of the UN to assist Palestinians. The reason for Washington’s decision is the allegations that several employees of UNRWA, which employs hundreds of people, were involved in the October 7 attacks.
The suspension decision of the U.S. was immediately adopted by its closest allies, Australia and Canada. They also announced that they have halted funding of the most critical umbrella relief agency, UNRWA, at a time when Gaza needs the most.
The U.S. administration couldn’t have taken a more concrete step to destroy the order instead of acting as the guard of its constructed order.
F̞16S FOR TURKEY; F̞35S FOR GREECE
Turkey is another country that disrupts the order, which works for its interests in foreign policy. Foreign policy steps, which can be considered a defeat, have been presented as a victory in present Turkey.
The most concrete precedent of it is the permission of the U.S. to sell F-16 fighter jets, which Turkey highly needs, in return for the approval of Sweden’s NATO entrance.
The U.S. administration sent the official letter to Congress that approved the sale of 40 F-35s to Greece on the same day when it paved the way for Turkey to purchase F-16s.
However, Turkey was involved in the F-35 project, the fifth-generation fighter jet program, from its first day. Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 project, in which it was a founding partner, with the purchase of S-400s from Russia, which couldn’t be adequately explained to the public how and against whom they could be used. Two F-35 fighter jets Turkey paid for weren’t delivered, and they weren’t refunded.
And now, the American press wrote that the U.S. ultimatum was influential in the negotiation to purchase the F-16 fighter jet. The Washington administration officially notified that there would be no permission to sell F-16s if Turkey doesn’t approve Sweden’s NATO membership in January, but the process for F-35s sales to Greece would start. Thereupon, Ankara hastily passed the approval of Sweden’s NATO membership through the Parliament.
The conclusion is that Turkey’s air defense is in such a difficult situation that it has settled for the fourth-generation fighter jet, F-16s. Greece, on the other hand, has become the owner of the fifth-generation F-35s.
That is the summary of the situation. Turkey pays a heavy cost for its foreign policy mistakes.