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The
House approved the measure, offered by Democratic
Representatives Frank Pallone and Chris Pappas, as an amendment
to the annual National Defense Authorization Act, by 244 to 179.
It is the latest effort by members of Congress to exert control
over the sale of the Lockheed Martin aircraft to NATO ally
Turkey.
The amendment would bar the United States to sell or transfer
the jets to Turkey unless the administration certifies that
doing so is essential to U.S. national security and included a
description of concrete steps taken to ensure they are not used
for repeated unauthorized overflights of Greece.
Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, who reviews major international weapons deal, has
said previously he opposed the sale.
However, it is several steps from becoming law. Once the House
passes its version of the NDAA - expected later on Thursday -
the Senate must approve its version. Then lawmakers must reach a
compromise version of the legislation, which authorizes more
than $800 billion in defense spending, before voting again later
this year.
Many U.S. lawmakers soured on Ankara after its 2019 acquisition
of a Russian-made missile defense system, triggering U.S.
sanctions as well as Turkey's removal from the F-35 fighter jet
program.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian
grip on power and eroding freedoms for journalists, advocates
and rights defenders have also prompted many in Washington to
argue against a weapons sale to Turkey.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, additional reporting by Humeyra
Pamuk; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
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