NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands are leading the international effort to train pilots as well as support crews, maintain the aircraft and eventually enable Ukraine to obtain the F-16 for use in the war with Russia.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in May that the Netherlands is seriously considering providing F-16s to Ukraine, as it is currently removing the fighter from its own armed forces.
The Netherlands currently has 24 operational F-16s that will be phased out by mid-2024, according to Dutch Defense Ministry figures. Another 18 jets are currently available for sale, of which 12 have been provisionally sold.
The US official said Foreign Minister Antony Blinken sent letters to his Danish and Dutch counterparts assuring them that the requests would be approved.