Top Democrat opposes Biden administration plan to sell warplanes to Turkey

Senator Bob Menendez, DN.J member, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Friday he plans to continue blocking the Biden administration’s plan to sell military jets to Turkey.

“As I have stated on numerous occasions, I strongly oppose the Biden administration’s proposed sale of new F-16 aircraft to Turkey,” Menendez said in a statement.

“President Erdogan continues to undermine international law, disregard human rights and democratic norms, and behave in a defiant and destabilizing manner in Turkey and towards neighboring NATO allies.”

The Democrat added that he would continue to oppose the deal – which is still pending – “until Erdogan stops his threats, improves his human rights record at home, including by releasing journalists and the political opposition, and will begin to act as a reliable ally should act.

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The $20 billion deal would require congressional approval, which would also depend on Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s and Finland’s bids to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.

The State Department notified Congress on Thursday of its intent to make a deal, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said Washington’s demands for a military aircraft deal are “endless.”
(Photo by Mustafa Camachi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Turkey made a request for combat aircraft just over a year ago.

Menendez said he approved of the offer to sell 40 F-55s to Greece.

On Saturday, a spokesman for Erdogan called the U.S. demands related to the potential sale “endless.”

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“If they continue to push Turkey in other directions with F-16 (and) F-35 sanctions, and then Turkey reacts, they blame Turkey again, then this is not a fair game,” he said. “Their list of requirements seems to be endless. There is always something.”

Reuters contributed to this report.