WASHINGTON (REUTERS) – Democratic and Republican US lawmakers urged President Joe Biden’s administration to not promote F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and mentioned they had been assured that Congress would block any such exports.
In a letter to Mr Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 11 members of the Home of Representatives cited “a profound sense of concern” about latest reviews that Turkey might buy 40 new Lockheed Martin F-16s and 80 F-16 modernisation kits.
The letter was dated Oct 25 and reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday.
“Following President (Tayyip) Erdogan’s September announcement that Turkey will buy a further tranche of Russian S-400 missile defence methods, we can not afford to compromise our nationwide safety by sending US-manufactured plane to a treaty ally which continues to behave like an adversary,” the lawmakers wrote.
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. A State Division spokesman mentioned the division doesn’t touch upon correspondence with Congress.
Reuters reported earlier this month that Turkey had made a request to america to purchase 40 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets and almost 80 modernisation kits for its current warplanes.
Ankara had additionally beforehand ordered greater than 100 Lockheed Martin F-35s, however the US eliminated Turkey from the programme in 2019 after it acquired the Russian S-400s.
The letter was led by Republican Consultant Nicole Malliotakis and Democratic Consultant Carolyn Maloney.
“Whereas we’re assured that Congress will stand collectively to dam any such exports ought to these plans progress, america can not afford to switch any superior navy tools to the federal government of Turkey at the moment,” the letter mentioned.
The partnership between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies has gone by way of tumult up to now 5 years over disagreements on Syria, Ankara’s nearer ties with Moscow, its naval ambitions within the Mediterranean, US costs towards a state-owned Turkish financial institution and erosion of rights and freedoms in Turkey.