US lawmakers to Biden: Upgrading Turkish F-16s will lead to more deaths
A group of US lawmakers in Congress, led by Rep. Frank Pallone, sent a letter to the US President expressing their strong disagreement with the public support expressed by Joe Biden for Turkey’s request for the purchase and upgrade of F-16 fighter jets.
The lawmakers note that such a development would reward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for not honoring his country’s commitments to both the United States and NATO.
Furthermore, the purchase of advanced fighter jets will more likely lead to further death and destruction in the region. The lawmakers also remind Biden that Turkey continues to utilize S-400 missile defense systems, which potentially exposes important tactical information about US weaponry and military operations to Russia.
They also point out that Turkey has repeatedly used its military power to violate sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus.
The lawmakers said that they “will take every action to prevent it.”
In November, Turkey requested 40 Block 70 F-16 fighter jets and 80 modernization kits for their current fleet from the US.
The other signatories to the letter were: Karen Bass, Gus M. Bilirakis, Tony Cárdenas, Judy Chu, David N. Cicilline, Jim Costa, Mike Doyle, Anna G. Eshoo, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chuck Fleischmann, Louie Gohmert, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl M. Grijalva, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Susie Lee, Ted W. Lieu, Nicole Malliotakis, Carolyn B. Maloney, James P. McGovern, Grace Meng, Grace F. Napolitano, Chris Pappas, Donald Payne, Linda T. Sánchez, John Sarbanes, Jan Schakowsky, Adam B. Schiff, Brad Sherman, Albio Sires, Christopher H. Smith, Jackie Speier, David G. Valadao and Peter Welch.
