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Supreme President Savas C. Tsivicos has issued the following statement:
The Biden administration’s notification to Congress of its plan to sell 40 F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, following Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO, is an outrage. In addition, the swift, informal nod to the reported $23 billion deal by leaders of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees is a grave disappointment.
Once again, the United States has given in to Turkey, a failed NATO member. The United States rightfully sanctioned Turkey for its violation of U.S. law when it acquired Russian missile defense systems and correctly took measures to kick Turkey out of the F-35 program. The F-16 deal conflicts with these measures and compromises U.S. interests in the region. The deal is a blow to U.S. credibility when it comes to holding violators of U.S. and international laws accountable. Moreover, Turkey fails to uphold U.S. values and international standards on human rights, religious freedom, and freedom of the press, yet continues to be rewarded. Why should Turkey change its ways?
Separately, we hail the Administration’s notification to Congress that it plans to sell 40 F-35 fighter jets, as part of an $8.6 billion defense package of arms to Greece, as a strong victory in the defense relationship between the U.S. and Greece. Greece is a stanch U.S. ally and NATO partner and a vital contributor to U.S. security interests in the region.
Although we laud the deal with Greece, we are dismayed that it seems to have been made so as to avoid tension between Greece and Turkey. The optics presented is that the Administration held the proposed deal with Greece hostage, or at bay, until the Administration could proceed with the F-16s deal with Turkey.
In the end, Lockheed Martin is the winner.
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