The Trump administration is expected to move forward with a proposed $750 million sale of F-110 jet engines to Türkiye despite objections from a senior Democratic lawmaker, according to media reports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, placed a hold on the sale over Ankara’s continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, as well as concerns related to Syria and Greece.
The administration informed Congress that it intends to proceed with the sale of jet engines for Türkiye’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, despite the hold placed on the deal, and described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a “great partner in the region.”
"Late yesterday, the administration informed me it would once again bypass congressional review for more than $700 million in defence articles to the Turkish military in yet another deeply troubling example of this administration's open contempt for Congress's oversight authority," Meeks said in a statement.
An administration official defended the move, citing U.S. President Donald Trump's close ties with President Erdoğan.
“The administration always maintains maximum transparency with Congress,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Anadolu.
“In addition to maintaining regular communication with the Hill, (U.S.) Ambassador (to Türkiye Tom) Barrack, Department of War officials and State Department officials have all briefed Congress in person on this topic,” the official added.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he is likely to take a step that would make Türkiye “very happy” when asked about Ankara’s request for F-35 fighter jets and jet engines.
Trump is expected to travel to Ankara for the NATO summit on 7-8 July, where he is set to meet with President Erdoğan.
The U.S. suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 after objecting to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, claiming the system would endanger the fighter jets and is inoperable with NATO systems.
Several Turkish defense entities were sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Türkiye has said repeatedly that there is no conflict between the two and proposed a commission to study the issue. Türkiye also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that its suspension broke the rules.
Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye, but also NATO.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrai...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the ...
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 p...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
Saudi Arabia’s outbound travel market could surge from around $35 billion to more than $60 billion by 2030-2034, driven by a young generation of high-spending travellers and intensifying competition among global destinations.
Uzbekistan’s first permanent contemporary art institution has opened in a historic 1912 building in Tashkent, transforming a former tram depot and diesel power station into a new cultural hub for the region.
Uzbekistan plans to introduce a new Heritage Impact Assessment system to shield historic cities and cultural heritage sites from the potential impact of construction and infrastructure development. Digital tools will also be used to manage tourist numbers and limit visitors where necessary.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the Gates Foundation, with talks spanning polio eradication, health, financial inclusion and digital development.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment