'Conditions of US sale of F-16s to Türkiye removed from defense budget bill'

Photo: AA

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Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday (December 7) that the final version of the text of the bill to be voted in the general assembly of the two wings of the congress had emerged, and that the items making sales of F-16 jets contingent on conditions were removed.

Accordingly, the conference committee, which includes senators and representatives from both houses of the US Congress, finalized the National Defense Authorization Law (NDAA) bill, which includes a defense budget of 857 billion dollars.

The related restricting items were presented by 18 representatives, including New Hampshire Representative Democrat Chris Pappas, Florida Representative Republican Gus Bilirakis, New York Representative Republican Nicole Malliotakis, and New Jersey Representative Democrat Frant Pallone.

The removal of the relevant clauses came after similar clauses previously submitted by New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and Maryland Senator Chris van Hollen were not included in the Senate version of the NDAA bill.

Türkiye hails recent US move

AA also reported that Türkiye hailed the recent US move to exclude certain provisions in the final text of the US defense budget on the sale of F-16s to Ankara.

Accordingly, speaking at a joint press conference with his Moldovan counterpart Nicu Popescu in Istanbul, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "In the end, the absence of a negative element (in the bill) is a positive development. We welcome this," and "Approval of bill, completion of purchases would serve 'everyone's interest" he added. 

What did previous version say?

In the previous version of the defense budget, it was stipulated that new F-16 sales to Turkey and F-16 modernization kits would not be made within the scope of the Arms Export Control Law, while the exemption of this article was subject to the following conditions:

"After concrete steps are presented to the relevant committees of the Senate and House of Representatives to ensure that the sale in question touches on important national security interests of the United States and that these weapons do not repeatedly violate Greek airspace, the president may apply for an exemption from this clause."

While the items submitted by Menendez and van Hollen were not added to the Senate bill, the bill submitted by Pappas and his supporters was approved and included by the House of Representatives on July 14.

Efforts of Türkiye were influential 

It is stated that the efforts of Turkish diplomats and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Washington were influential in this step from the Congress.

In order for arms sales to be realized, it is necessary that Congress does not raise an objection to the sale.

Turkey requests 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and modernization kits for 80 aircraft in its inventory from the USA. (SD/PE)