Saturday, October 9 2021 14:28

ArmInfo. The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) opposes the sale of 40 F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, emphasizing that it was that very same aircraft used against  the Armenian people during last Fall's 44-day Artsakh War, launched  by Azerbaijan with the full backing of Turkey. 

Thus, according to the source, satellite images confirm F-16 fighters  were secretly deployed to Azerbaijan prior to the war, which also saw  heavy usage of Turkish strike drones against the Armenian people in  Artsakh. According to numerous media outlets, the billion-dollar deal  is in the Foreign Military Sales process, and will need to be  approved by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Congress, both of  which have the authority to block the sale. 

"Congress and the American people know that the Erdogan regime in  Turkey has become not only an unreliable ally, but a treacherous  danger to U.S. interests and human rights in the region and  globally," said Assembly Co-Chairs Van Krikorian and Anthony  Barsamian. "Using F-16s to advance genocidal attacks against  Christian Armenians in partnership with the autocrat Aliyev regime in  Azerbaijan is not something the U.S. should advance.

"This latest move by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comes  after Turkey was prevented from purchasing over 100 F-35 advanced  stealth fighter jets in response to Ankara's acquisition of Russian  S-400 missile defense systems, prompting U.S. sanctions. While the  U.S. has warned Erdogan to halt buying additional Russian arms, he  has publicly indicated that he will purchase another round of S-400s. 

During a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in  Sochi, Erdogan described Turkish military cooperation with Russia as  being "of utmost importance." Further, while in New York for the  United Nations General Assembly last month, Erdogan told CBS News'  Margaret Brennan in an interview that he will continue to acquire  Russian defense systems and "nobody can get involved in this." 

He added, "In the future, nobody will be able to interfere in terms  of what kind of defense systems we acquire, from which country at  what level. Nobody can interfere with that. We are the only ones to  make such decisions." 

To recall,, according to TASS, with reference to Reuters, Turkey has  asked the United States to purchase 40 F-16 fighters, as well as  modernize about 80 American fighters available to Ankara. According  to Reuters sources, the deal is estimated at billions of dollars, but  is still being studied by the State Department and the relevant  government agency that is part of the Pentagon. It is responsible for  the supply of military equipment and weapons abroad under  intergovernmental contracts, the promotion of ties between the US  Armed Forces and other countries, and the provision of financial and  technical assistance to Washington's foreign partners in the field of  defense. In addition, as Reuters reminds, after the possible approval  of these bodies, the deal may be blocked by Congress. Republicans and  Democrats are calling on the Washington administration to put  pressure on Ankara in connection with the purchase of the Russian  S-400 anti-aircraft missile system (SAM). "As part of its policy, the  State Department does not confirm or comment on the alleged sale or  transfer of weapons and equipment until they are officially brought  to the attention of Congress," the US Foreign Ministry commented on  the information to the agency.