There is "nothing new," Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Reuters at the Capitol.
"We continue to raise our concerns."
During the informal review process for major weapons sales, the
leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign
Affairs committees can put "holds" on the deals, stopping them
over issues including human rights concerns.
Menendez has long opposed the potential sale of the F-16s to
Turkey over issues including Turkey's resistance to the
ratification of Sweden's NATO membership, concerns about human
rights abuses and Turkish overflights of Greek airspace.
NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion
of Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighters and nearly 80
modernization kits for its existing warplanes. President Joe
Biden's administration supports the sale.
Ankara had held out on the ratification of Sweden's NATO
membership for months, accusing Stockholm of doing too little
against people Turkey sees as terrorists, mainly Kurdish members
of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). But President
Tayyip Erdogan said on July 10 he would forward the ratification
to parliament when it reopens in the autumn.
Menendez spoke more about Turkey later on Wednesday during a
confirmation hearing for Biden's nominee to be assistant
secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.
"Sweden still hasn't received a vote from Turkey even though
Erdogan said, 'Yes, OK, Sweden should be in.' He could have
called the parliament. He could have had the vote. He hasn't had
it," Menendez said.
Menendez also cited concern about Turkey's relations with
Greece, asking, "How does it work for us to have one NATO ally
be belligerent to another and someone sell them F-16s?"
A State Department spokesperson said the department would
continue consultation.
The spokesperson said Biden has long been clear that he supports
the sale. "This is about facilitating NATO interoperability and
is in the U.S. national interest," the spokesperson said.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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