President Biden Maintains He Needs Approval Of Some Members Of U.S. Congress For Turkiye F-16 Aircraft Transaction. That Is Not True. If Important For NATO, Why Not Authorize It Using AECA?
The Biden-Harris Administration Continues To Maintain Publicly The F-16 Aircraft Transaction With Turkiye Is Not Connected With The Erdogan-Yilmaz Administration Approving Sweden As A Member Of NATO.
However, In Nearly Every Official Statement From The White House, Department Of State, And Department Of Defense Which Mentions The F-16 Aircraft Transaction, There Is A Mention Of The Ascension Of Sweden Into NATO.
President Biden Maintains That He Needs The Approval Of Some Members Of The United States Congress For The F-16 Aircraft Transaction. That Is Not True.
President Biden May Use The AECA To Approve The F-16 Aircraft Transaction Without The Approval Of The United States Congress.
From Media Reporting: “After months of objections, [President] Erdoğan agreed at a NATO summit in July to forward Sweden’s NATO bid to the Turkish parliament for ratification. A day later, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington would proceed with the transfer of F-16s to Turkey in consultation with Congress.”
“I had a quick word with Mr. Biden. We also discussed the F16 issue. Unfortunately, friends keep bringing Sweden up when it comes to the F-16 issue. Such an approach seriously upsets us. When they so, I have a response. You say you have a Congress to consider, I have my own Congress, which is the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. Unless the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye passes it, I cannot alone ratify it. I am not at a point where I can reach a decision on my own. My National Assembly needs to pass it. Sweden has to fulfill its responsibilities. Unless it fulfills its responsibilities, I have to wait for my National Assembly’s decision.” Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye (2014- ) at the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India.
Emergency Arms Sales Authorities Available to the President: “Provisions in Section 36 of the AECA allow the President to waive congressional review requirements and immediately sell arms if the President certifies to Congress that “an emergency exists which requires such sale in the national security interests of the United States.” In 2019, the Trump Administration cited those authorities in notifying Congress of immediate FMSs and DCSs to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan because of stated security concerns for U.S. partners relating to Iran and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. At a hearing to examine the sales, testimony from a State Department official suggested that Senator Menendez (then serving as SFRC Ranking Member) had placed a hold on the sales some months prior to the Administration’s invocation of emergency authority. Although the sales proceeded, the Senate and House later passed three joint resolutions of disapproval (S.J.Res. 36, S.J.Res. 37, and S.J.Res. 38); President Trump vetoed them all. To date, Biden Administration officials have not publicly indicated whether they might consider invoking emergency authorities in an F-16 case for Turkey.”
United States Department of State
Washington DC
11 September 2023
Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson
QUESTION: On Türkiye, I was wondering if you have any updates on the sale of F-16s to Türkiye. Is there any timeline for when the State Department intends to proceed with this sale? And also, you and other U.S. officials have repeatedly said the F-16 issue and Sweden’s NATO accession were not linked, but yesterday, Turkish President Erdogan, after having a brief chat with Biden on the sidelines of the G20, said that the U.S. makes such a connection and it could upset Ankara. How do you explain that? Are you in the same – still in the same position of not linking those two separate issues?
MR MILLER: So two things. One, I don’t have an update on the timing. But with respect to whether they are linked, we do not believe that they are linked or should be linked, but as we have said before and as we have made clear to the Turkish Government, of course, the sale of F-16s is something that has to be approved by the United States Congress. And there are members of Congress who believe that the two issues are closely tied together, so while we do not believe that they are linked, we’re not the only actor in this process. We’ve made that clear directly to Turkish officials.
QUESTION: Thank you, Matt. Just want to follow up on the F-16 question, because in the same comments, Erdogan also talks about how he has his own congress to persuade, and that’s a reference to the Turkish parliament. And when you read the comments in their totality, it does sound like the ratification may not be as soon as the Turkish parliament reconvenes. I’m wondering if the U.S. has any worries that this might be further delayed? Are you – what kind of, like, message are you conveying to the Turkish authorities? And what is the sequencing going to be? Like, they’re going to ratify, you’re going to send the formal notification? Or they want you to send a formal notification of the F-16s after they ratify?
MR MILLER: I will say, with respect to what our position is, we believe, as we’ve said before, that Sweden’s accession to NATO should be approved as soon as possible. And we appreciate President Erdogan’s support for it and take him at his word that he will push it through and that it will ultimately be ratified by the Turkish parliament. With respect to any sequencing, I’m not able to get into it at this point.
The White House
Washington DC
29 May 2023
Remarks Before Marine One Departure
THE PRESIDENT: ... I spoke to Erdoğan and congratulated Erdoğan. And he -- he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so let’s get that done. And so we'll be back in touch with one another. But I -- it was basically a congratulatory call.
QUESTION: Are you expecting any movement on Sweden’s membership in NATO on Erdoğan’s part?
THE PRESIDENT: I raised that issue with him. We’re going to talk more about it next week.
United States Department of State
Washington DC
30 May 2023
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu today to offer his congratulations on President Erdogan’s re-election. Secretary Blinken emphasized the value the United States places on the U.S.-Turkiye bilateral relationship. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cavusoglu highlighted the importance of NATO unity, and Secretary Blinken reiterated his strong belief that Sweden is ready to join the Alliance now. Secretary Blinken thanked the Foreign Minister for his government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the continuation of the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative.”
