Three members of the US Senate from both parties presented a bill yesterday, aimed at preventing the transfer to Turkey of advanced technology of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters. The bill also hinders Turkey's role as a maintenance station for the aircraft. As is known, under the US-led multinational Joint Strike Fighter program, Turkey was expected to purchase more than 100 F-35 aircraft. A similar bill is to be presented to the US Parliament.
Republican Senators James Lankford and Tom Tillis and Democrat Jean Sahin, co-signatories on the bill, express concern that Tayyip Erdogan is pursuing a dangerous course of government, while defying the government. the issue of the supply of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missiles.
On April 20, Senator Lakford and 65 other members of the Senate sent a letter to President Erdogan demanding the release of Pastor Andrew Branson.
Last month, the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and the US National Armenian Committee launched a joint campaign urging members of Congress to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey.
"Individual freedoms are becoming increasingly diminished as Erdogan consolidates power for himself and Turkey's strategic decisions are unfortunately increasingly misaligned and sometimes at odds with US interests," the senator said in a statement. Lockford.
"These factors, he continues, make the transfer of sensitive F-35 technology and its capabilities to the Erdogan regime increasingly dangerous. In addition, the Turkish government continues to move closer to Russia, while holding in prison an innocent American pastor, Andrew Branson, to use him as a pawn in political negotiations. The United States does not reward the hostage-taking of American citizens. "Instead, similar action will be taken with the type of sanctions that this bill will trigger," he added.
"Given my firm commitment to NATO and the transatlantic alliance, I regret to say that our relationship with Turkey has reached a point where we need to consider deteriorating defense and business ties in order to free American hostages held in the United States. "Turkey," said Sen. Jin Sahin.
"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's choice to take innocent Americans hostage and imprison them in order to gain an advantage over the United States is unheard of and illegal. Erdogan and his government must abide by the rule of law at home and abroad and release Pastor Andrew Branson and other Americans illegally detained in Turkey. The harassment and detention of locally employed personnel in the US diplomatic mission must also be stopped immediately. "Until that happens, I will continue to work with Senators Lackford and Tillis to call for punitive action, including blocking the transfer of F-35s."
In a statement, Senator Tillis said the United States will not forget Andrew Branson and the other Americans unjustly imprisoned by the Turkish government.
"Turkey has long been a vital ally in NATO and the United States understands the unique threats to national security it faces. However, the denial of the rights of law-abiding Americans undermines the relationship between our two countries. "Erdogan's government should understand that Congress will promote measures to protect the interests of American citizens, including the cessation of the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey."
In addition to illegally detaining US nationals, the bill prevents the transfer of F-35s to Turkey unless the US president certifies in writing to Congress that "the Turkish government is not taking steps to undermine NATO interoperability, it is not exposing its systems." "NATO does not degrade the general security of NATO member states and does not seek to procure defense equipment from a foreign country, which has been sanctioned by the United States."