A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit the United States from transferring F-35 fighter jets to Turkey until Ankara abandons its plans to buy a Russian air defense system, The Hill reports.
“Turkey is an important NATO ally and willing partner in addressing a number of U.S. national security priorities,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said in a statement. “It’s concerning that Turkey would seek close defense cooperation with Russia, whose authoritarian ruler seeks to undermine NATO and U.S. interests at every turn.”
Lankford introduced the bill with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).
The bill would require the Trump administration to certify that Turkey is not buying a Russian S-400 long-range air-defense system before Ankara can take delivery of an F-35.
“Make no mistake – the Kremlin is an adversary of the United States and many of our NATO allies,” Shaheen said in a statement. “The prospect of Russia having access to U.S. aircraft and technology in a NATO country, Turkey, is a serious national and global security risk.”
The bill is the latest effort from U.S. lawmakers and officials to convince Turkey not to buy Russia’s S-400.
U.S. officials are concerned the S-400 could be used to gather information on the F-35, the most advanced U.S. aircraft. The United States and other NATO allies have also warned the S-400 system will not work with other NATO defense systems, and that Turkey could be subject to U.S. sanctions against those who do business with Russia’s defense industry.
“The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don’t hook your com...
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