US: 50 MPs demand that F-16s not be given to Turkey

The co-chair of the Greek congressional legislature, Konstantinos Bilirakis, and the co-chair of the corresponding Armenian, Frank Pallone, joined a cross-party group of more than 50 U.S. lawmakers who called on the Department of Defense and the State Department to block the sale of advanced aircraft. F-16 Block 70 and modernization kit in Turkey.

“We strongly urge you to reject Turkey’s request for new F-16s and modernization kits and to take immediate steps to bring the Erdogan regime to its responsibilities,” reads a letter dated 4/2/2022 to the Foreign Minister. US Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

“The United States should not provide further support to the Turkish military until President Erdogan takes concrete steps to stop his destabilizing actions and violations of international law at home and abroad. These show that he will not change his behavior until “The United States should use all its diplomatic tools, including targeted financial sanctions,” the letter said.

Turkey was expelled from the US fifth-generation F-35 program and banned from purchasing advanced fighter jets after buying S-400 air-to-air missiles from Russia. It planned to purchase up to 100 of these aircraft to modernize its air force.

In October, Ankara returned with a new request, this time to buy the 40 F-16 Block 70, the most advanced version of the fighter, along with 80 modernization kits to upgrade its older F-16s.

However, there has been widespread backlash in Congress over the deal over the purchase of S-400s by Turkey and various policies of the Erdogan government.

“Congress reminds Turkey that no dinner and no Twitter activity by Erdogan’s ambassador to Washington will smooth over the fundamental policy differences that have led to the refusal of Turkey to acquire advanced US weapons,” he said. HALC), Eddie Zemenidis. “Congress is right to demand a change of substance, not just style.”

You can read the letter on the right in the column ” Related Files ”

Source: Capital

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