Turkey will find an alternative to American F-16 fighters if Washington refuses to sell them to Ankara. This was stated by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to Milliyet newspaper.

"We also say that F-16s are not our only option," he said. Akar expressed hope that "common sense will prevail in the US and they will make a decision based on a comprehensive assessment of the problem."

According to him, members of the Turkish parliament are negotiating with representatives of the US Congress on the purchase of fighters.

Earlier, US senators appealed to US President Joe Biden with a request to postpone the sale of fighter jets to Turkey until Ankara approves the application for Sweden and Finland to join NATO. Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin warned the US against linking F-16 sales to Sweden's admission to NATO.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US administration has no objection to the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, but Congress also has a say.