The offer appeared to be the latest move in an ongoing diplomatic effort to persuade Turkey to drop its objection to Sweden joining the military alliance.

The Swedish defense ministry said on Friday it could contribute its Gripen warplanes to a Western coalition that is trying to speed fighter jets to Ukraine — but only after Sweden is allowed into NATO.

The offer, included in a $200 million package of weapons, 155-millimeter caliber ammunition and other defense support for Ukraine, was the latest move in an ongoing diplomatic effort to persuade Turkey to drop its objection to Sweden joining the military alliance.

“Support in the form of JAS-39 Gripen would be conditional on Sweden first becoming a member of NATO,” the Swedish Defense Ministry said in a statement.

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[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 37 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ok now THAT is a power move I can respect. I know it’s kinda in the realm of playing politics, but Erdogan is being such a fucking tool and he genuinely needs to be taken down a notch.

If this is the thing that finally gets him to stop dicking around and undermining the rest of NATO, and gets Sweden into NATO, and also gives Ukraine a modern multi role fighter that just happens to be able to fire Meteor missiles (much of the data is classified, but it’s considered to be at least as good as an AMRAAM, with a much newer design and longer range)… well, that’d be pretty awesome.

[–] realitista@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why would this get Erdogan to do anything though?

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because the entire rest of NATO will lean on him even harder.

Tangentially, it might be a very shrewd tactic for Sweden to offer a deal to Turkey on some fighters. THAT might be a clear enough quid pro quo for Erdogan to accept.

[–] realitista@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, that's more the horsetrading Erdogan that I know. I don't think NATO is holding back on leaning on him, but he's waiting for his kickback.