The amendment banning the sale of new F-16s to Turkey has "passed" after the appropriate committee and the full session of the US House of Representatives, raising the possibility that it will become law by the end of the year. What does it say?
An amendment banning the sale of new F-16s, modernization kits or upgraded technology to Turkey was also passed by the plenary session of the House of Representatives.
The amendment was upvoted a few days ago by the competent committee of the US House.
However, it leaves open a window that allows the president to override the restrictions if he certifies to Congress that doing so is in the vital national security interest of the U.S. and details the steps being taken to ensure that the F-16s do not are used for overflights over Greece.
Specifically, the amendment, which will be included in the budget of the US Department of Defense, states the following:
The (U.S.) President may not sell or authorize the export of new F-16 aircraft or F-16 upgrade technology or modernization kits under any authority under the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq. e.) to the government of Turkey or any agency or agency of Turkey, unless the (US) President provides to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Congressional Defense Committees that:
This transfer is in the national interest of the United States and details the specific measures taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for repeated unauthorized overflights over Greece.
The two amendments were filed by Reps. Chris Pappas and Frank Pallon. In a joint letter, the Hellenic American Leadership Council and the American Jewish Committee asked American lawmakers to support the said amendment.
"Turkish violations of Greek airspace and armed overflights over Aegean islands have reached dangerous levels, creating a real threat to peace and stability in the region," the letter said.
It was preceded by the hard-hitting announcement by Republican congressmen Gus Bilirakis and Nicole Maliotakis: It is shocking that President Biden supported the sale of US F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, while he had recently heard first-hand the concerns about Turkish aggression by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit to Washington.
