Turkey Sold Weapons to Azerbaijan for Attacking Innocent Armenians, US Senator Calls for Not Selling F-16s to Erdogan

Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Democratic Senator from New Jersey, has commented on Turkey, specifically addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He urged the White House not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, as reported by "Ermenihaber."

“Recently, Erdogan threatened Athens, saying, 'Greece is afraid of our missiles. They say the 'Typhoon' missile will hit Athens.' Then, directly addressing the Greek people, he said, 'We will strike if you do not behave.' As a NATO member, he is effectively threatening to directly target Athens, where three million peaceful residents live. According to UN norms, a deliberate attack on civilian populations is considered a war crime,” Menendez stated.

Discussing the 44-day war, Menendez noted that days before the outbreak of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey sold Azerbaijan $77 million in military equipment that was used to attack innocent Armenians. “That is why it is not surprising that Erdogan met this summer in Tehran with some of the world’s most brutal autocrats—the presidents of Russia and Iran. Just look at the leaders he collaborates with. Considering these recent actions, the US should not provide F-16 aircraft to Erdogan. Therefore, as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will not approve the delivery of F-16s to Turkey until he ceases his aggressive policies throughout the region,” the senator concluded his remarks.