this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2023
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US approves sending F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands (www.reuters.com)
submitted 1 year ago by lntl@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
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"I am writing to express the United States' full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors [...] It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty" said Blinken.

Will this solidify a Ukrainian victory?

U.S. officials have privately said that F-16 jets would have been of little help to Ukraine in its current counteroffensive and will not be a game changer when they eventually arrive given Russian air defense systems and contested skies over Ukraine

Or will Russian radar and missle systems tear them up?

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[–] unscholarly_source@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I'm not an expert or anything, but as it has been explained to me, the geo-political consequences of Ukraine having NATO weapons is enormous.. If Ukraine were to have access to F-18s, F-35s, or any NATO asset, it would implicate NATO, and further escalate the conflict towards a NATO-Russian war (World War 3), and the precipitation of nuclear assets. This is why even France's own Dassault assets and Sweden's Saabs were not offered. F-16s are old enough, and used enough by non-NATO forces that this might be okay.

A prolonged war, while incredibly tragic, might still be less costly than World War 3...

[–] HappyMeatbag@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago

Grrr. Damn geopolitics. I appreciate the response, though!

[–] Kangie@lemmy.srcfiles.zip -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not an expert

Clearly.

Ukraine were to have access to F-18s, F-35s, or any NATO asset, it would implicate NATO

Bullshit. Everything you just listed is in use by non-NATO countries. The primary drivers for "unlocking" new varieties of aid to Ukraine appear to be:

  • battlefield utility in the near future (javelin, himars/m270, western IFVs, tanks etc).
  • sending a message to that western support is locked in for the long term (repair facilities, announcements around reconstruction aid)

the geo-political consequences of Ukraine having NATO weapons is enormous.. ... [It would] ... further escalate the conflict towards a NATO-Russian war (World War 3), and the precipitation of nuclear assets.

Russia has claimed that every single new weapons system delivered is "escalatory" and threatens nuclear war every single time. Please stop spreading their propaganda for them.

This is why even France's own Dassault assets and Sweden's Saabs were not offered.

Are you sure that it has to do with this and not the fact that there were more F-16s produced than each of the alternatives combined?

[–] unscholarly_source@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lmao what's with the salty tone lol

[–] HappyMeatbag@beehaw.org 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m having reddit flashbacks

[–] Kangie@lemmy.srcfiles.zip 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You can always stick to beehaw if you want nothing but butterflies and puppies.

I'm going to counter Russian misinformation wherever I see it, and these are the same old tired claims, just dressed up with a little hat and bow tie this time.

[–] HappyMeatbag@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Oh, please. Don’t try and pretend your behavior is justified because you’re spreading Truth.

You could have made your point without being obnoxious and condescending, but chose to throw civility out the window. I don’t want “nothing but butterflies and puppies”. I want mature people who are able to communicate like adults.