U.S. lawmakers propose halting F-35 sale after Turkish embassy brawl
Several lawmakers are looking to withhold military equipment and visas from Turkey in an attempt to force its government to comply with U.S. law after the May attacks on protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington, The Hill reported.
According to the source, using the fiscal 2018 defense policy bill as their vehicle, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have proposed amendments to stop F-35 fighter jets and handguns from being sold to the NATO ally country.
Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) proposed blocking the sale of Lockheed Martin-made F-35s to Turkey. The country plans to buy more than 100 of the F-35A variant, with the first aircraft to be delivered in 2018.
Cicilline’s amendment stipulates that no funds for the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) may be used to transfer F-35 aircraft to Turkey until President Trump “certifies that the Government of Turkey is cooperating with the criminal investigation and prosecution of Turkish Government employees involved in the assault on civilians in Washington, D.C,. on May 17, 2017.”
Rep. Dave Trott (R-Mich.), proposed a similar amendment, disapproving of a still in the works sale of Sig Sauer-made semi-automatic handguns to Turkey for $1.2 million.
The amendments were offered to the fiscal 2018 NDAA, passed by the House Armed Services Committee in June. The House Rules Committee will vote on the more than 90 proposed amendments Wednesday, deciding which individual amendments will be considered on the floor by the full House.