US top senator reiterates opposition of F-16 sale to Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Chair of the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez, reiterated on Saturday his opposition to the sale of F-16 fighters to Turkey, saying “Turkey has not done enough to be rewarded in this way.”
“I continue to be against the sale of F-16s,” Menendez told ERT, a Greek state-owned TV channel, adding that the government of the Turkish president needs to stop its belligerent behavior towards Greece.
He clarified that Congress did not give the green light for the upgrade of the Turkish F-16 missile systems, but for their interoperable means of communication.
Menendez was referring to a recent $259 million deal with Turkey for avionics software upgrades. The approval does not concern the $20 billion request from Turkey for new F-16s and nearly 80 upgrade kits.
Last week, US President Joe Biden’s administration notified Congress of the sale of defense articles and services to support modernization of Turkey’s fleet of F-16s.
After leaders of US congressional committees gave informal approval, Turkey had requested to buy equipment and services to support the current fleet of F-16 fighter jets, while Turkey’s request to buy of F-16s remains in limbo amid continuing opposition in Congress, Reuters reported.
The US top Senator pointed out that the issue of the Turkish-Greek relations after May would “depend on the results of the elections,” adding that he had always seen that the Greek government wanted to live peacefully with Turkey.
“It is the one who violates the Turkish airspace, it is not the one who invades the territorial waters of Turkey, it does not express itself belligerently with ‘we will come one night.’”
“We will see who will be elected in Turkey. But I hope that the attitude will change,” Menendez said.