U.S. Congress increases pressure on Biden Administration to block  sale of F-16s to Turkey

ArmInfo. Over 40 U.S.  Representatives  - led by Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Congressional Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and  Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) - today pressed the Biden Administration to put  the brakes on Turkey's request to purchase 40 F-16's, reported the  Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).  

The Pappas-Maloney-Bilirakis letter received broad-based support from  a coalition of ethnic, faith, and civic groups that worked  successfully with Senate and House leaders to block an earlier sale  of F-35's to Turkey, and also encouraged U.S. sanctions on the  Erdogan regime under the Countering America's Adversaries Through  Sanctions Act (CAATSA). 

The coalition includes the Hellenic American Leadership Council,  ANCA, American Friends of Kurdistan, the Hindu American Foundation,  and the Middle East Forum. Among the other groups opposing the F-16  sale are the American Jewish Committee, PSEKA, American Hellenic  Institute, Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, and the Armenian Council  of America.  

"Along with all our coalition partners, we want to thank Congressman  Pappas for his principled leadership and also to express our sincere  appreciation to Congressman Bilirakis, Congresswoman Maloney, and all  the U.S. Representatives who joined in this bipartisan initiative to  protect our U.S. national interests by blocking a reckless sale of  U.S. F-16 fighters to the increasingly hostile and openly  anti-American Erdogan regime," said ANCA Executive Director Aram  Hamparian.  

The bipartisan Pappas-Maloney-Bilirakis letter expresses concern  about the sale of F-16s and 80 modernization kits, noting security  risks associated with the sale and arguing that by Erdogan's own  words, Turkey has shown no intention of coming into compliance with  U.S. law. 

"We share your goal of a Turkey that is rooted to the West, but we  will not achieve that goal if the Erdogan government escapes  accountability for violating U.S. law and the standards of the NATO  alliance," argue the Representatives. The House members are  requesting "a formal notification of any Turkish Letter of Request  (LOR), the specifics of such an LOR, the Administration's position on  such an LOR, and responses to our specific objections." 

"Turkey's illegal and unfettered actions are indicative of President  Erdogan's transformation of Turkey to a rogue state led by a leader  with a nationalistic philosophy, Neo-Ottoman ambitions, and a  complete disregard for following international law," explained Rep.   Bilirakis. "Erdogan continues to violate American law (the Countering  American Adversaries through Sanctions Act, or CAATSA), which alone  makes Turkey ineligible for new F16s. But beyond his violation of  CAATSA, he also acts contrary to American interests, with his  dangerous behavior contributing to the instability of the region. 

For all these reasons, we absolutely should not sell Turkey F-16s."  "As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I am  proud to join Rep.  Pappas in opposing any transfer of such advanced  and sensitive military equipment to Turkey," said Rep. Maloney.  "Turkey's purchase and use of Russian S-400 missile systems in  defiance of NATO standards and U.S. law, decades-long violations of  the Republic of Cyprus' sovereignty, and increasingly destabilizing  behavior in the Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia clearly  demonstrate that sales of advanced U.S. military equipment like the  F-16 and associated modernization kits must stop." 

Joining Representatives Pappas, Maloney, and Bilirakis is co-signing  the letter to Secretary Blinken were Representatives: Colin Allred  (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Charlie Crist  (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Lloyd Doggett  (D-TX), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Charles  Fleischmann (R-TN), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT),  Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja  Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Nicole  Malliotakis (R-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), James McGovern (D-MA),  Grace Meng (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton  (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Tim Ryan (D-OH), John Sarbanes (D- MD),  Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA),  Albio Sires (D-NJ), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Jackie Speier (D-CA),  Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), David  Trone (D-MD), Nydia Velazquez (D- NY), 

In statement after statement issued to Rep.  Pappas, civic coalition  members expressed their concerns about the pending F-16's sale.  "I  would like to commend Representatives Pappas, Bilirakis and Maloney  for leading their colleagues in asserting Congress' role in U.S.  foreign policy," said Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic  American Leadership Council. 

"Congress forced the Trump Administration to do the right thing  regarding Turkey and F35s, and now has to make sure no one in the  Biden Administration tries to circumvent U.S. law and Congressional  intent. Until Turkey decides to honor U.S. interests, U.S. values,  and U.S. law, it should not get F-16s or any other American weapons." 

"Turkey's request for modernized F-16s after being removed from the  F-35 program shows that President Erdogan isn't getting the message.   It is President Erdogan's behavior that needs to change, not the  specific details of his request. The S-400 missile compromised vital  technology associated with the F-35, which is what led to Turkey's  removal from the program. Modernized F-16s radar use similar  technology to F-35s, and present similar risks in proximity to the  S-400 missile. This is to say nothing of Turkey's numerous other  problems, such as its recent inclusion on the "gray list" for  potential terror finance according to the Financial Action Task Force  and numerous human rights abuses in Syria and against its own  citizens," said Cliff Smith, Washington Project Director of the  Middle East Forum. "President Biden has repeatedly stressed that  Turkey should improve its human rights record and return to acting  like a NATO ally. But under Erdogan, Turkey hasn't done so. Until  that happens, the State Department shouldn't consider the request. It  would be unacceptable to rely on a loophole to sell these planes to  Turkey." "Turkey has proven to be an unreliable ally and is in  violation of numerous U.N.  resolutions concerning the continued  occupation of Cyprus," said Philip Christopher, President of the  International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA). "It  has jeopardized the security of the United States and NATO!"    "We welcome the leadership of Reps. Pappas, Bilirakis, Maloney, and  all of the signatories of this important letter," said Taniel  Koushakjian, Director Of Government Relations & Policy, Hindu  American Foundation. "The growing military relationship between  Turkey and Pakistan is a real concern to millions of Americans who  support upholding U.S. law and ensuring that sophisticated U.S.   military components that are vital to our national security don't end  up in the wrong hands." "American Friends of Kurdistan applauds the  members of Congress who have taken a just and critical stance on  preventing Turkey from attaining additional F-16 fighter jets and  upgrades," said Diliman Abdulkader, Co-founder and Spokesperson of  American Friends of Kurdistan. 

"The United States had saved many civilian lives when it removed  Turkey from the F-35 program, the United States would be saving many  more lives if it prevents Turkey from modernizing and expanding its  current F-16 fleet. Turkey has done enough damage to the region with  the weapons it already holds, and this step is decisive to keeping  the region secure. The F-16s will undoubtedly be used against the  Kurds across the region, we must do everything we can to prevent  this."