Washington. July 15th. INTERFAX - The House of Representatives of the US Congress voted for an amendment to the draft military budget approved by it for the fiscal year 2023, which prohibits the sale of new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, Politico reported.
Thus, the newspaper writes, "this was another blow to the efforts of the administration (Joe Biden, - "IF") from fellow Democrats."
244 congressmen, including 184 Democrats and 60 Republicans, voted for the amendment proposed by Democrat Chris Pappas and a number of other lawmakers, the publication said.
The annual defense policy legislation initiated by Pappas includes a provision prohibiting the United States from selling or transferring aircraft unless the administration confirms that it is "critical to U.S. national security."
The newspaper recalls that the American administration made significant efforts to ensure that Turkey lifted objections to the entry of Finland and Sweden into the alliance. After the Turks, Finns and Swedes reached an agreement at the NATO summit last month, Biden at the same summit declared support for the supply of American fighter jets to Turkey.
Observers draw attention to the fact that the refusal to sell the F-16 may lead to the Turkish parliament blocking the ratification of the protocol on the accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance, motivating the failure to fulfill the conditions and promises from the United States, which prompted Turkey to give consent.
