Examining the Possible Sales of F-16s from the United States to Turkey: Hurdles and Demands in the US Congress

• S-400 Compatibility Concerns:
  • Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile system has raised compatibility issues with US and NATO military technologies.
  • The presenceConcerns about Turkey’s commitment to human rights and regional stability are affecting the F-16 deal. of the S-400 system in Turkey is seen as a potential risk of exposing sensitive information to Russia.
  • US Congress hesitates on the F-16 deal due to these concerns, impacting bilateral relations.
• Human Rights and Regional Stability Criticisms:
  • Turkey’s actions in Northern Syria and involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh War have drawn criticism from US Congress.
  • Concerns about Turkey’s commitment to human rights and regional stability are affecting the F-16 deal.
  • References to legal frameworks highlighting the requirement for arms not to escalate conflicts.
• Armenian Lobbying and Obstacles:
  • Strong Armenian lobbying efforts in the US Congress influence policymakers’ decisions.
  • Prominent figures like Senator Bob Menendez, tied to Armenian lobbying groups, oppose the F-16 sale.
  • Armenian lobbying adds an additional hurdle to the F-16 deal with Turkey, affecting the decision-making process

After the recent Vilnius NATO Summit, where Turkey accepted Sweden’s membership into NATO, President Biden declared his support and willingness to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. However, even though the Biden Administration intends to proceed with such an arms deal, the US Congress looks very hesitant towards it.

The F-16 fighter jet sale to Turkey carries significant implications for the future course of US-Turkey bilateral relations especially because the two countries currently have very strong relations on military and security bases. In the upcoming months, the US Congress will likely still oppose the F-16 deal with Turkey because prominent members from both the Republican and Democratic parties along with other US senior officials accuse Turkey of not acting as an ally.

Firstly, Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 missile system raised harsh criticism towards Turkey in the US Congress. Prominent members of both the Republican and Democratic parties have stated that the presence of the S-400 missile system in Turkey is incompatible with US and NATO military technologies while pointing out that such incompatibility could lead to the exposure of sensitive information. Therefore, Turkey’s request to purchase $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT. N) F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes has been welcomed with hesitation and opposition in the US Congress due to the presence of the S-400 missile system and the possibility of sensitive information exposure to Moscow.

Secondly, the US Congress also criticized Turkey for its lack of commitment to human rights and regional stability. Turkey’s military activities in Northern Syria and its involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh War were welcomed with condemnation by some of the members of the US Congress. It is important to note that under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, which are two rules that govern the process of an arms export to a foreign state, the weapons exported must not be utilized to escalate the conflict. Therefore, the perception of a hawkish Turkey in regional affairs within the US Congress is another major obstacle to the possibility of the F-16 deal.

Lastly, the success of strong Armenian lobbying efforts must also be noted in order to examine the F-16 fighter jet deal. There is a very heavy Armenian lobby in the US Congress which directly influences the policymakers’ decisions. For example, Senator Bob Menendez, who is known for his criticism of Turkey and his heavy objection to the F-16 sale, is also known for his strong ties to the Armenian lobbying groups in the United States. Indeed, the Armenian lobby and its efforts will serve to be another obstacle in front of the F-16 deal with Turkey.

The obstacles standing in the way of the F-16 deal are also directly linked to the demands the US Congress has for Turkey. The Congress demands Turkey abandon its S-400 missile system and show its commitment to human rights and regional stability.

Turkey is unlikely to abandon its S-400s because of issues relating to national security and a lack of a satisfactory alternative. Additionally, the Turkish government believes that its presence in Northern Syria and other conflicts is aimed to bring stability and peace to the region.

It would be hard to argue that the Turkish presence in Northern Syria is intended to destabilize the region since Turkey has been the most affected country as a result of different conflicts in the region while hosting millions of refugees. Turkey and the United States must understand and work towards finding a working solution for the F-16 deal.

The Biden Administration should convince the US Congress while pointing out the strategic importance of US-Turkey relations. Ultimately, the conclusion of the F-16 deal will serve to have crucial implications for the future course of US-Turkey relations.