A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has filed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would prevent the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey if Ankara continues to violate airspace in the Aegean.
The amendment was introduced to Congress at the instigation of Greek-born Congressman Chris Pappas and signed by Dina Titus, Carolyn B. Maloney, Charlie Crist, and John Sarbanes.
Under the amendment, the President of the United States is prohibited from transferring weapons to a NATO member that has repeatedly violated the airspace or sovereignty or territorial integrity of another NATO member in the past year.
The goal of US lawmakers, who are members of the Congressional Greek Affairs Caucus, is to ensure that the Biden administration does not proceed with the sale, as well as the modernization of Turkey’s existing fleet of F-16 aircraft.
In a joint statement, the six lawmakers acknowledge that Ankara’s retreat in its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO is a welcome development. However, they recall that “in the last decade, Turkey has been neither a productive member of NATO nor a reliable ally of the United States,” and point out that there are still too many unresolved issues that should not allow the transfer of F-16s to Turkey.
They also noted repeated violations of Greek airspace by Turkish F-16s.
PS I doubt very much that the US will cancel its decision on Turkey. Too much is at stake. And as for Greece, this is beautifully written in the publication of David Narmania – “The Americans will surrender Greece, like the Kurds, in exchange for Erdogan’s loyalty to the West”. Read recommended.
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