Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Canada insists on Ankara's approval of Sweden's request to join NATO before resuming the export of drone cameras to Turkey.

Speaking to journalists on board a plane while returning from Athens late Thursday, Erdoğan said the United States agreed with Canada on this issue, but Sweden's NATO request will be decided by the Turkish parliament.

Erdoğan had referred the draft law to the parliament for consideration in late October.

Turkey, a NATO member, requested in October 2021 to purchase 40 F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin and 79 upgrade kits for its current warplanes.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden supports the $20 billion deal, but there are objections in the U.S. Congress regarding Turkey's delay in NATO's expansion by including Sweden.

Erdoğan said: "If you have a Congress, I have a parliament. And you say you will take a step on the F-16 issue after it is approved in Congress. I also have a parliament."

He added: "If we are allies in NATO, then do what you have to do at the same time... and our parliament will make the necessary decision."