(WASHINGTON, DC) -Today Greek-American Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) cosponsored a bipartisan amendment to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would prohibit President Biden from selling or transferring U.S. F-16 fighter jets or modernization kits to Turkey if it continues its aggression in the Eastern Meditteranean region.
In order to authorize a sale or transfer, President Biden would have to certify to Congress that Turkey has not violated Greece’s sovereignty through military flyovers, degraded NATO operability, or the general security of NATO member countries within the previous 120-day period.
Last week, President Biden met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan where he signaled support for the potential sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey.
“During his recent visit to Washington, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis repeatedly cautioned against any sale of U.S. military equipment to Turkey due to Erdoğan’s unprovoked aggression in the region,” Malliotakis said. “Despite Greece’s legitimate concerns, President Biden has signaled his willingness to provide Turkey with U.S. warplanes and kits to modernize its fleet, air-to-air missiles, and radar equipment, which would only heighten the threat against some of our country’s strongest allies, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. It’s incumbent upon the United States to stand with our allies against any form of aggression, which is why Congress is taking steps to prohibit this sale in case President Biden attempts to proceed.”
For more information about the amendment, click HERE.
