The US State Department approved the possible sale of F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft to Australia, the department announced in a statement on Thursday.
The sale, which the department estimates will cost $250 million “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives” of the US, according to the statement.
“Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific,” the department continued. “The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the Western Pacific.”
“It is vital to the US national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the statement said.
Further, the deal isn’t meant to alter the “basic military balance” of the region, the department said, adding that no additional US contractors will be assigned to Australia and that the deal won’t impact US defense readiness.
“The proposed sale will enhance Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats and increase its interoperability with the US and its allies through comprehensive training, the department added.
“Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this training into its armed forces.”
The same day, the White House notified Congress of its intention to sell jet engines to Turkey, in a deal estimated at $700 million.
On Thursday, several Democratic lawmakers said they opposed the engine sale and cautioned the administration over selling Ankara any F-35s.
“We cannot reward Erdogan’s government while it continues to violate US law and threaten our reliable, democratic allies,” Representative Chris Pappas of New Hampshire said in a social media post. “Absolutely no F-35s to Turkey.”
“The US government is prepared to license the export of these items having taken into account political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations,” the State Department said in its notification to Congress.
On Thursday, several Democratic lawmakers said they opposed the engine sale and cautioned the administration over selling Ankara any F-35s.
“We cannot reward Erdogan’s government while it continues to violate US law and threaten our reliable, democratic allies,” Representative Chris Pappas of New Hampshire said in a social media post. “Absolutely no F-35s to Turkey.”
Congress has 15 days to introduce a joint resolution of disapproval if it wants to block the sale. Such a resolution would need to pass in both chambers and could be vetoed by Trump.
