Turkey moving swiftly to conclude Sweden's NATO bid with F-16s in sight

FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gather prior to their meeting, on the eve of a NATO summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania July 10, 2023. Henrik Montgomery /TT News Agency/via REUTERS

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkey is expected to send the final instrument of ratification for Sweden's NATO membership to Washington as early as Friday, in a move that Turkish and U.S. leaders say clears the way to Ankara's purchase of U.S. F-16 fighter jets.

President Tayyip Erdogan signed off Sweden's membership on Thursday after parliament endorsed it on Tuesday, ending 20 months of delays.