Democratic and Republican senators on Friday called on U.S. President Joe Biden to delay the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey until Ankara allows Sweden and Finland to join NATO.
In a letter sent to the president, nearly 30 senators stressed the «impossibility of considering future support to Turkey, including the sale of fighter jets, until the country ratifies the accession protocols» of these two countries.
«Failure to ratify these protocols or present a timetable for doing so threatens the unity of the Alliance at a key moment in history as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine,» they said.
In this sense, the letter points out that «a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey is in the interest of the United States, which is waiting for the Turkish government to ratify accession,» as reported by CNN television network.
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO shortly after the invasion began. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to block enlargement if their demands are not met and has accused both countries of «harboring terrorist organizations».
The U.S.-Turkey relationship has thus been overshadowed by continued delays in ratifying the protocols and this, according to the senators, «jeopardizes the security of the alliance, Europe and the international community.»
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
