US Congressmen called on State Department to suspend export licenses  for U.S. drone technology to Turkey

ArmInfo.Members of the US Congress David Cicilline (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) are leading a bi-partisan call on the State Department to suspend export licenses  for U.S.  drone technology to Turkey, pending an official  investigation into the destabilizing role of Turkey's drone programs  in the Caucasus, South Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and around  the globe, reported by ANCA (Armenian National Committee of America).

According to the source, the Hellenic American Leadership Association  (HALC), American Friends of Kurdistan, Hindu American Foundation, In  Defense of Christians, Middle East Forum, and ANCA are leading a  growing coalition of U.S. groups supporting the effort.

On Friday, Representatives Cicilline and Bilirakis urged U.S. House  members to join them in cosigning a letter calling on Secretary of  State Antony Blinken to issue a report on the broader ramifications  of Turkey's drone industry; whether they include U.S. technologies  that violate currently imposed sanctions; and whether Turkey's  actions constitute yet another violation of NATO rules and bylaws.

"Over the last year, Turkish drones have been deployed by Azerbaijan  against Armenian civilians in Artsakh, Syria; against Kurdish forces  that have partnered with the U.S. in the war against ISIS; and in  Libya's civil war," states the letter which cites battlefield  evidence from Artsakh confirming the use of U.S. technology in  Turkey's Bayrakdar drones deployed by Azerbaijan against Armenians.