Malliotakis Cosponsors Amendment Prohibiting F-16 Sale to Turkey

(WASHINGTON, DC) -Today Greek-American Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) cosponsored a bipartisan amendment to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would prohibit President Biden from selling or transferring U.S. F-16 fighter jets or modernization kits to Turkey if it continues its aggression in the Eastern Meditteranean region. In order to authorize a sale or transfer, President Biden would have to certify to Congress that Turkey has not violated Greece's sovereignty through military flyovers, degraded NATO operability, or the general security of NATO member countries within the previous 120-day period.

Last week, President Biden met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan where he signaled support for the potential sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey.

“During his recent visit to Washington, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis repeatedly cautioned against any sale of U.S. military equipment to Turkey due to Erdoğan's unprovoked aggression in the region," Malliotakis said. "Despite Greece's legitimate concerns, President Biden has signaled his willingness to provide Turkey with U.S. warplanes and kits to modernize its fleet, air-to-air missiles, and radar equipment, which would only heighten the threat against some of our country's strongest allies, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Additionally, Turkey has threatened to begin another military incursion into northern Syria which previously disrupted counter-ISIS operations by U.S. and partner forces and Turkey remains the only NATO member not to impose sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. It's incumbent upon the United States to stand with our allies against any form of aggression, which is why Congress is taking steps to prohibit this sale in case President Biden attempts to proceed."

For more information about the amendment, click HERE.

Malliotakis, the daughter of a Greek immigrant, is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where she serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, and sits on the Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber. She is also a member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus and the Congressional Hellenic-Israel Alliance.