Turkey proposes to buy 40 F-16 fighter jets.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON — A number of United States (US) lawmakers from the Democratic and Republican parties urged the administration of President Joe Biden not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. They also expressed confidence that the US Congress would block the sale of the fighter jets to Turkey.
In a letter to Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 11 US lawmakers expressed deep concern about recent reports that Turkey could purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and 80 F-16 modernization equipment.
The letter is dated October 25 and seen Reuters on Tuesday (26/10).”Following President (Tayyip) Erdogan’s announcement in September that Turkey would purchase additional Russian S-400 missile defense systems, we cannot compromise our national security by sending US-made aircraft to an ally who continues to act like an enemy. ,” wrote the US lawmakers.
The drafting of the letter was led by Republican lawmaker Nicole Malliotakis and Democrat Carolyn Maloney. “While we believe the US Congress will stand together to block such exports (the sale of fighter jets) if these plans progress. The United States cannot transfer advanced military equipment to the United States. anything to the current Turkish government,” the letter said.
The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters reported in early October, Turkey had submitted a request to the US to buy 40 Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets and nearly 80 modernization equipment for the country’s warplanes.
Ankara had previously ordered more than 100 Lockheed Martin-made F-35 jets, but the US removed Turkey from the program in 2019 after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
The partnership between the US and Turkey has been turbulent in the past five years due to several things, namely disagreements over Syria, Ankara’s closer relationship with Moscow, Turkey’s naval ambitions in the Mediterranean, US accusations against Turkish state-owned banks, and the deterioration of rights and freedoms in Turkey.
source: Reuters/between
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