Ankara Slams U.S. Senate Decision to Block F-35 Sales
ANKARA (Hurriyet) – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m has harshly criticized a U.S. Senate decision to block F-35 sales to Turkey.
"The decision is an unfortunate development,” Y?ld?r?m told reporters.
"Turkey is not without alternatives. Such attempts are regrettable and goes against the soul of strategic partnership,” the prime minister said.
Y?ld?r?m’s comments came after the U.S. Senate passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday including an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted 85-10 for the annual National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which authorizes U.S. military spending but is generally used as a vehicle for a broad range of policy matters.
According to the NDAA, U.S. President Donald Trump should certify that Turkey does not threaten NATO, purchase defense equipment from Russia or detain U.S. citizens.
Senators included the legislation because of the imprisonment of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir on terror charges and Turkish government’s decision to purchase S-400 air defense system from Russia.
The amendment claimed that purchasing the S-400 system from Russia increases tensions and risks to the NATO alliance.
The U.S. Defense Ministry is supposed to prepare a report on relations with Turkey in 60 days. Any sales of F-35 and F-16 fighters, Patriot air defense systems, and military helicopters by Pentagon to Turkey will be blocked until the report is submitted to the Congress committees.
Criticizing the U.S. for trying to force Turkey not to purchase the S-400 air defense system from Russia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 4 recalled that Turkey had been trying to purchase the Patriot air defense system from the U.S., but the missiles have never been sold to Turkey when they were needed the most.
"This is the reason why Turkey, which is in urgent need of these weapons, has chosen to purchase them from Russia,” he added during his visit to Washington.
"The decision is an unfortunate development,” Y?ld?r?m told reporters.
"Turkey is not without alternatives. Such attempts are regrettable and goes against the soul of strategic partnership,” the prime minister said.
Y?ld?r?m’s comments came after the U.S. Senate passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday including an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted 85-10 for the annual National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which authorizes U.S. military spending but is generally used as a vehicle for a broad range of policy matters.
According to the NDAA, U.S. President Donald Trump should certify that Turkey does not threaten NATO, purchase defense equipment from Russia or detain U.S. citizens.
Senators included the legislation because of the imprisonment of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir on terror charges and Turkish government’s decision to purchase S-400 air defense system from Russia.
The amendment claimed that purchasing the S-400 system from Russia increases tensions and risks to the NATO alliance.
The U.S. Defense Ministry is supposed to prepare a report on relations with Turkey in 60 days. Any sales of F-35 and F-16 fighters, Patriot air defense systems, and military helicopters by Pentagon to Turkey will be blocked until the report is submitted to the Congress committees.
Criticizing the U.S. for trying to force Turkey not to purchase the S-400 air defense system from Russia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 4 recalled that Turkey had been trying to purchase the Patriot air defense system from the U.S., but the missiles have never been sold to Turkey when they were needed the most.
"This is the reason why Turkey, which is in urgent need of these weapons, has chosen to purchase them from Russia,” he added during his visit to Washington.