United States Approves $5 Billion Sale of F-35 Fighter Jets to South Korea
In a significant development, the United States has given the green light for a $5 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to South Korea. These state-of-the-art fighter jets, known for their stealth capabilities, will enhance South Korea’s defense capacity amid ongoing tensions with North Korea.
The U.S. State Department officially informed Congress about the approval of the sale, which includes 25 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin, along with engines and related equipment.
According to a statement from the State Department, “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces.”
South Korea has been operating F-35s since 2018, and the United States typically approves the sale of these jets to its closest partners. Notably, Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program after purchasing a missile defense system from Russia.
This sale comes at a time when tensions continue to escalate with North Korea. The reclusive nation recently conducted its latest missile tests, coinciding with a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia to discuss greater weapons cooperation with President Vladimir Putin.
The United States has been strengthening its trilateral cooperation with Japan and South Korea, both of which host U.S. troops but have had historical disputes. During a summit last month at the Camp David presidential resort near Washington, President Joe Biden, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to work more closely on addressing challenges related to North Korea and other regional issues.
