US Amendment-“block” to Turkey’s F-16s also by Senator Chris Van Hollen

A second amendment placing additional conditions on Turkey to acquire and upgrade F-16 fighter jets has been filed by Senator Chris Van Hollen in the National Defense Appropriation Bill (NDAA) being processed by the Senate.

Regarding the issue of overflights in the Aegean, Senator Van Hollen’s amendment moves along the same lines as Senator Robert Menendez’s own amendment, as it asks the American president to certify to the relevant congressional committees that the F-16 they will not be used for overflights over the Greek islands.

As noted in the amendment, “the president may not sell or authorize the export of new F-16 aircraft, or upgrade technology, or F-16 modernization kits to any authority under the provisions of the Defense Export Control Act, to the government of Turkey or any agency or agency of Turkey, unless the president certifies to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Congressional Defense Committees that such a sale is in the best interest of the U.S. , detailed the specific measures taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for its repeated unauthorized overflights over Greece and against military operations against US allies, including the SDF for the campaign against of ISIS, as well as no export of new F-16 aircraft or technology for an F-16 upgrade or modernization kit cannot take place before the date that Turkey ratifies the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.”

It is noted that the Van Hollen amendment is not limited only to the issue of Turkish overflights over the Aegean islands, but sets broader conditions. In particular, it calls for the ratification of the protocol of the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO and to ensure that American fighters will not be used

The “block” Menendez

Senate Defense Budget Amendment Filed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendezwhich puts obstacles in the way of purchasing and upgrading fighters F-16 in Turkey, as reported by ERT.

It is recalled that Chris Papas also submitted a corresponding amendment to the Parliament in the summer.

According to the text filed today “the President may not sell or authorize the export of new F-16 aircraft or F-16 upgrade technology or modernization kits to any authority under the provisions of the Defense Export Control Act, to the government of Turkey or any agency or agency of Turkey, unless the president certifies to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Congressional Defense Committees:

1) that such transfer is in the national interest of the United States;

2) this certification must include a detailed description of the specific measures taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for the repeated unauthorized overflights over Greece”.

against the Kurds in Syria.

RES-EMP

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