AHI Urges Top Foreign Policy Lawmakers to Block Administration Attempts to Revive F-35 Deal with Turkey
No. 86
WASHINGTON — American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis wrote to Capitol Hill’s top foreign policy legislators to raise deep concern about reports that Biden administration officials are attempting to reach a deal with Turkey that would allow it to re-enter the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
In the letter addressed to House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Ranking Member Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), President Larigakis urges Congress to block any attempt by the Biden administration to provide F-35 fighter jets to Turkey based upon the country’s series of violations of the rule of law, including several U.S. laws.
Larigakis cites that Turkey remains under sanction by the United States due to its violation of CAATSA for its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, and Turkey routinely violates the Arms Export Control Act by its use of U.S. weapons for illegitimate purposes unrelated to their self-defense. Larigakis adds Turkey violated U.S. law when it used U.S.-supplied arms to unlawfully invade the Republic of Cyprus, namely the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA) and the Foreign Military Sales Act (FMSA).
Additionally, Turkey continues to oppose U.S. interests by embracing terrorist groups in the Middle East, cooperating with Iran and Russia, and continuing its occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.
“The use of a double standard in the application of the rule of law regarding Turkey jeopardizes the goal of the U.S. to promote international rules-based order, human rights, and democratic values in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and across the world,” Larigakis wrote. “It is against the best interests of the United States to not hold Turkey responsible for their actions.”
Read the letter
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
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