Politics
US Congressmen say Kathimerini S-400 problem still blocks Turkish F-35’s path
Three members of the US Congress familiar with the relevant processes told Kathimerini that the key precondition for any change in US policy regarding the sale of F-35s to Turkey remains the fate of its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.
The issue has come back to the forefront following reports emerging after the recent NATO summit in Ankara, where US President Donald Trump left open the possibility of reviewing the CAATSA sanctions framework against Turkey under certain conditions.
Jim Risch, Republican senator from Idaho and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was clear on the Senate’s position, emphasizing that the presence of the S-400s remains the main obstacle to the full restoration of defense cooperation between Washington and Ankara.
“Turkey’s possession of Russian S-400s has been a long-standing problem and an obstacle to deepening our defense cooperation. I hope that, through President Trump’s leadership, Turkey will finally agree to end its possession of S-400s and put this issue behind us,” he told Kathimerini.
Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen takes a similar position. In 2019, he was one of the principal architects of the United States’ sanctions framework against Turkey, as well as one of the strongest supporters of the implementation of the CAATSA law, which led to Ankara’s exclusion from the F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet program.
Speaking to Kathimerini, Senator Van Hollen reiterated his strong opposition to any possibility of transferring F-35s to Turkey.
“I have long opposed the transfer of the advanced F-35 fighter jet to Turkey. Ankara still retains the Russian S-400 missile defense system, which directly threatens the security of our F-35s, and [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has been an unfaithful NATO ally who continues to escalate attacks on democracy and the rule of law,” he said.
“The fact that President Trump is even considering this transfer is astounding because not only does it undermine the national security of the United States and that of our NATO allies, but it also violates American law,” he added.
“The law is clear: As long as Turkey has the S-400s, Ankara is excluded from the F-35 program. Congress has made this clear on a bipartisan basis, and any attempt by the Trump administration to circumvent this law is simply unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US Congress is actively working to prevent any change in US policy towards Turkey. A group of 18 Democratic lawmakers, led by Nevada Rep. Dina Titus, who is Greek-American, sent a letter to House leaders, calling on them to oppose any effort to reinstate Ankara in the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet program.
Meanwhile, New York Republican Representative Mike Lawler is leading a bipartisan initiative of ten Republican and Democratic representatives who oppose not only a potential sale of F-35s to Turkey, but also the potential export of American engines for the Turkish KAAN fighter jet.
Speaking to Kathimerini, Lawler emphasized that his position is based both on national security concerns and the need to comply with existing U.S. law.
“Selling Turkey one of America’s most advanced fighter jets is not in the best interest of the United States. It risks compromising critical technology and sending the wrong message to our allies in Europe and the Middle East. Restrictions on the sale of F-35s to Turkey must absolutely remain in place as long as Erdogan continues to use Russian S-400s, in accordance with existing U.S. law,” he said.
|
Sources 2/ https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/foreign-policy/1309330/us-congress-members-tell-kathimerini-s-400-issue-still-blocks-turkeys-f-35-path/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article |
What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos
 |
 |
 |