The US gave its allies permission to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. So far, no country has yet confirmed that it would give them.
The United States has given its allies permission to deliver American-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
US National Security Advisor by Jake Sullivan according to the president Joe Biden told about the policy on Friday to the G7 countries in Hiroshima, Japan.
Sullivan also confirmed that the United States accepts the allies’ decision to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots.
The Americans will also train Ukrainian fighter pilots.
The United States has previously been reluctant to give Ukraine the modern fighter jets it has repeatedly requested. Last January, Biden said he was not in favor of sending fighter jets.
Instead, Washington and its allies have invested in the development of Ukraine’s ground forces and air defense.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has praised the new policy of the United States on Twitter and characterized it as “historic”.
Although the arrival of Western fighter jets in Ukraine now seems even more likely, so far no country has yet confirmed that it will provide its F-16 fighter jets to the Ukrainian Air Force.
– The first step is, of course, education. After that, we have to decide together with allies, partners and the Ukrainians how the actual handover of the planes will take place, US National Security Adviser Sullivan commented at the press conference.
China exports US resources
Director of the Foreign Policy Institute Mika Aaltola The US announcement to allow the export of F-16 fighters is not surprising.
– Fighter pilot training has already been prepared before. Then, when the pilots have been trained, a decision will be made to give the planes, and I think that stage has now been reached, Aaltola describes.
According to him, the reluctance of the United States to hand over its own F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine indicates that Washington hopes for more activity from Europe in defending its own territory.
– The United States’ support for Ukraine is no longer necessarily open, summarizes Aaltola.
The wider picture also has an effect.
– Europe should understand that in the United States China is seen as a peer opponent and an immediate security threat, Aaltola analyzed.
You can discuss the topic on 21.5. until 11 p.m.