U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, the Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed his reservations regarding the proposed sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey during a recent interview at the Capitol on Wednesday. Menendez said that he had not altered his stance on the matter and still maintained his hold on the sale of the aircraft.
Speaking to Reuters, Menendez asserted that there was “nothing new” to change his position, and he and his colleagues on the committee continued to voice their concerns. The Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees have the authority to place “holds” on major weapons sales during an informal review process, particularly if there are significant issues such as human rights concerns.
Senator Menendez has long opposed the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey due to several reasons, including Turkey’s reluctance to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership. Additionally, concerns about human rights abuses and Turkish overflights of Greek airspace have also contributed to his apprehensions.
In October 2021, NATO member Turkey officially requested to purchase $20 billion worth of F-16 fighters from Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. Notably, President Joe Biden’s administration has expressed its support for the sale.
One of the major points of contention has been Turkey’s reluctance to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership. Turkish authorities have accused Sweden of not taking sufficient action against individuals Turkey perceives as terrorists, mainly referring to Kurdish members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). However, on July 10, President Tayyip Erdogan announced that he would submit the ratification to parliament when it reconvenes in the autumn.
Later on the same Wednesday, Senator Menendez further discussed the issue during a confirmation hearing for Biden’s nominee to be assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. He highlighted Turkey’s failure to vote on Sweden’s NATO membership, despite President Erdogan’s assurances of supporting it.
Menendez also expressed concerns about Turkey’s relationship with Greece, questioning the wisdom of providing F-16 fighter jets to a country that demonstrates hostility towards another NATO ally. He raised a legitimate query on how such a situation aligns with the principles of NATO cooperation.
In response to the ongoing concerns, a State Department spokesperson assured that the department would continue consultations. The spokesperson emphasized that President Biden has consistently expressed support for the sale, citing the rationale as being crucial for facilitating NATO interoperability and serving the U.S. national interest.
Source: Gerçek News
