Six US congressmen are proposing the creation of an oversight mechanism that will be able to ensure that Turkey does not use the new F-16 fighters to violate Greek sovereignty in the Aegean. The said proposal takes place in view of the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

In a letter sent to the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, members of the Greek affairs group in the House of Representatives argue in favor of such a mechanism that would be able to freeze, delay or even cancel the transfer of fighters depending on Turkey’s behavior.

In fact, as they explain, such a mechanism will be able to ensure that Ankara does not take actions that undermine US national security interests and the unity of the NATO alliance.

US lawmakers argue that the specific conditions can be included in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) that the US government will send to Turkey if the F-16 contract is approved.

This letter may detail the terms, conditions, and oversight mechanisms governing the use of all equipment to be included in the defence contract. American lawmakers argue that such a move is feasible because it enjoys political legitimacy due to recent resolutions in Congress.

Not only is there no precedent for imposing conditions on the sale of defensive weapons, but Congress has already expressed support for imposing conditions on such a sale. In the 2023 National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA), the House of Representatives approved an amendment that would place reasonable limits on the government’s ability to transfer F-16 aircraft and modernization kits to Turkey. This provision was passed by the Parliament on a bipartisan basis with 73% of MPs voting in favor, they note.

Finally, lawmakers are calling on Mr. Blinken to see the big picture as it is reflected in the broader interests of the Western alliance. For this reason, they argue that efforts should not be limited solely to Sweden’s NATO membership, as they recall that both President Biden and White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, have recently emphasized the importance of stability in the Aegean.

Although they welcome the recent de-escalation, the American parliamentarians remind that the doctrine of Turkish foreign policy remains unchanged, given that Ankara continues to maintain the casus belli against Athens and possesses the Russian S-400 air defence system.

The letter is signed by MPs Chris Papas, Gus Bilirakis, Frank Palone, John Sarbanis, Dina Titus, and Nicole Malliotakis.

Also read: USA | Menendez F-16 amendment dropped by US Senate – Menendez’s shocking statement