Erdogan: Türkiye Will Back Sweden's NATO Bid if US Keeps Promise on F-16 Sale 

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, US, September 19, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, US, September 19, 2023. (Reuters)
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Erdogan: Türkiye Will Back Sweden's NATO Bid if US Keeps Promise on F-16 Sale 

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, US, September 19, 2023. (Reuters)
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City, US, September 19, 2023. (Reuters)

Türkiye’s parliament will keep its promise to ratify Sweden's NATO bid if US President Joe Biden's administration paves the way for F-16 jet sales to Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday, according to Turkish media.

Speaking to reporters on his flight back from Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan, Erdogan said that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Sweden's NATO membership bid last week in New York.

The US administration is linking F-16 fighter jet sales to Türkiye with Ankara's ratification of Sweden's bid, Erdogan said.

"If they (the US) keep their promises, our parliament will keep its own promise as well. Turkish parliament will have the final say on Sweden's NATO membership," he said.



Malaysia Coast Guard Locates Oil Tanker Involved in Collision Off Singapore

A handout photo taken and released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on July 19, 2024 shows the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. (Photo by Handout / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement A / AFP)
A handout photo taken and released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on July 19, 2024 shows the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. (Photo by Handout / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement A / AFP)
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Malaysia Coast Guard Locates Oil Tanker Involved in Collision Off Singapore

A handout photo taken and released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on July 19, 2024 shows the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. (Photo by Handout / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement A / AFP)
A handout photo taken and released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on July 19, 2024 shows the Singapore-flagged tanker Hafnia Nile on fire in Tanjung Sedili, near Singapore. (Photo by Handout / Malaysian Maritime Enforcement A / AFP)

Malaysia's coast guard said on Sunday it had located and intercepted a large oil tanker that was involved in a fiery collision with another vessel two days ago off Singapore, reported Reuters.
The coast guard said on Saturday that the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged tanker Ceres I had left the location of the collision that caused a fire and injured at least two crew members. The ship was also believed to have turned off its tracking system, the coast guard said.
The Ceres I was found in Malaysian waters with two tugboats towing it, the coast guard said in a statement on Sunday.
The Ceres I and the two tugboats have been detained by the coast guard for further investigation, it added.
Meanwhile, aerial surveys conducted by the coast guard found minor traces of an oil spill at the location of the collision between the Ceres I and the Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile, the coast guard said in the statement on Sunday.
"The environment department has been informed and will conduct further monitoring," it said.