US Senator Bob Menendez rejects F-16 sale to Turkey
QAMISHLI, (North Press) – Late on Monday, Senator Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, reiterated that he will not approve the sale of F-16s to Turkey.
“Any decision by the United States to go ahead with the sale of F-16 fighter jets and upgrade kits to Turkey would be “baffling” given the “belligerent” stance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan towards NATO ally Greece,” Menendez said.
The US Senator reflected on the threats posed by Turkey to its neighbors saying, “What we have seen is a Turkey that threatens another NATO ally, i.e. the Hellenic Republic, and it threatens it without justification, without cause.”
“So, in my mind,” continued Menendez, “It would be baffling to sell it military equipment when it harbors such actions and when it has clearly stated time and time again some of its intentions. Maybe the Biden Administration will use my hold on the sale as a way to get Turkey to act in a different way. If that takes place that can be a positive thing. But as of now, I intend to continue to do what I have said I would do, which is that I would not use my ability to approve the sale at this time,” he said.
Chair of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee lashed out bitterly at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“I would aspire for Turkey to be different than it is under President Erdogan. For Turkey to be the reliable NATO ally, to follow the international norms, to not be belligerent to its neighbors… It is in that context that I have opposed the sale of the F-16s, because at the end of the day, the reality is that we have not seen a Turkey under Erdogan that lives up to those expectations,” Menendez said.
Of note, On January 16, the Biden administration informally notified the Congress of its intention to sell 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, along with 79 upgrade kits to modernize the Turkish Air Force’s existing F-16 fleet.
Congressional leaders who object to the sale cite Turkey’s human rights violations, intimidation of its neighbors and obstruction of Sweden and Finland’s to join NATO. The acquisition by Turkey of the Russian S-400 missile defense system adds more troubles to the sale.