Congress fury over potential Trump bypass on Turkey deal
President Trump plans to bypass congressional oversight to approve a $750 million aircraft engine sale to Turkey despite Democratic opposition over Ankara's possession of Russia's S-400 anti-aircraft system.
The dispute over the arms deal
According to Newsbomb, Representative Gregory Meeks (Democrat, New York), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is blocking the proposed sale of F-110 engines to Turkey. The congressman argues that the State Department has not provided satisfactory justification for its decision, nor has it made an effort to brief him on the implications of the agreement for U.S.-Turkish relations.
In his statement, Meeks emphasizes:
No emergency authorization was invoked, no written justification was presented, and for months they refused to make a good faith effort to brief me on the implications of the sale for U.S.-Turkey relations, Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian S-400 system, and other regional security concerns.
The issue of the Russian S-400 system
Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 system approximately a decade ago has created a permanent conflict in U.S.-Turkish relations. American officials continue to fear that the Russian anti-aircraft system could collect critical intelligence on the technology of American F-35s if it operated alongside American weapons systems. This concern is the main reason Turkey remains excluded from the F-35 fighter aircraft program.
Traditionally, the U.S. government secures the consent of key congressional committees before major weapons system exports. However, this time the Trump administration has announced that it intends to proceed with the deal despite Meeks’ objection.
The Trump-Erdoğan personal relationship and structural problems
President Trump maintains a significant personal relationship with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A senior Trump administration official stated:
President Trump maintains an excellent relationship with President Erdoğan, who has been an important partner in the region.
However, the disagreement reveals the limits of the recent improvement in U.S.-Turkish relations. Former senior Turkish diplomat Alper Coşkun, now an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, commented that:
The personal relationships of the two leaders do not always translate into an overall improvement in relations. This is more of a structural problem.
Turkey’s increasing importance to NATO
Turkey has the second largest army in NATO and is acquiring an increasingly important role, particularly as the Trump administration’s relations with several European governments remain tense. The Turkish defense industry has supplied Ukraine with weapons systems, while several Western officials consider Ankara a stable security partner against adversaries such as Russia and Iran.
During the recent conflict with Iran, Turkish officials participated in ceasefire negotiations. At the same time, NATO air defense systems shot down Iranian ballistic missiles headed toward Turkey, including those targeting a joint U.S.-Turkish military base where U.S. nuclear weapons are deployed.
The agreement and the Turkish KAAN fighter
The proposed agreement concerns American-made F-110 engines, which are intended to be used in the Turkish KAAN fighter. President Trump is expected to visit Ankara in July for the NATO Summit, where more details about the agreement and Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 program will be discussed.
A French publication reports that Turkey’s return to the F-35 program could happen in July, after the critical Trump-Erdoğan meeting, although congressional approval and technical certifications are required.
Source: Newsbomb
