LAST UPDATE: 23.55
Chris Pope’s amendment that prohibits the sale of new F-16s, modernization kits or upgraded technology to any entity in Turkey also passed the plenary session of the House of Representatives.
The amendment – or one of the two blocking the sale of American F-16s to Turkey – had received the first “yes” in the previous days from the relevant committee of the US House.
Today’s approval increases the chances that it will become US law at the end of the year as part of the defense budget. In order to get there, the amendment will have to be approved by the Senate, where it will be tabled in the near future.
“I spoke to the House about the amendment that was just passed that prohibits the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey without congressional authorization. We cannot allow Erdogan to continue to use NATO membership to avoid consequences for his actions,” Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone, who has filed the second amendment on the issue, said in a tweet.
“Today the House approved an amendment I introduced with my colleagues to block President Biden from selling F-16 fighter jets or related technology to Turkey until (Turkey) is held accountable for its destabilizing actions against our allies,” said Democratic congressman John Sarbanis.
It is noted that the amendment leaves a window open that allows to US President Joe Biden to waive the restrictions, provided that it certifies to Congress that the sale is in the vital national security interest of the US and that it details the measures taken to ensure that the F-16s are not used for overflight above Greece.
Specifically, the amendment states the following:
“The (US) President may not sell or authorize the export of new F-16 aircraft or F-16 upgrade technology or modernization kits pursuant to any authority under the Arms Export Control Act (22 USC 2751 et seq. .e.) to the government of Turkey or any agency or agency of Turkey, unless the (US) President provides to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Congressional Defense Committees that:
This transfer is in the national interest of the United States and details the specific measures taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for repeated unauthorized overflights over Greece.”
Source: Capital
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