JONAH BENNETT
National Security/Politics Reporter
2:44 PM 07/07/2017
Rhode Island Democratic Rep. David Cicilline has proposed
to block F-35 sales to Turkey after the Turkish president’s security detail
beat protesters in Washington, D.C.
Cicilline, who serves as a member of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs, has forwarded an amendment to the 2018 National Defense
Authorization Act. The proposal would stop the transfer of any F-35s until
President Donald Trump can secure a promise from the country that it will
cooperate with the prosecution of Turkish security who viciously assaulted protesters
outside the Turkish embassy in D.C., Defense News reports.
Turkey is looking to buy more than 100 F-35A
aircraft and expects to receive its first fighter jet in 2018, but that won’t
take place without cooperation on Turkey’s part if Cicilline’s amendment
is successful. For it to be successful, however, it requires House approval,
after which point the House NDAA bill will have to be reconciled with the
Senate NDAA. Supposing the amendment even obtains approval to join the
House bill, it may be struck out during the reconciliation process with the
Senate bill.
Currently, although Turkey is a NATO ally, the
relationship between the United States and Turkey is somewhat tense, as the
Pentagon has provided arms to Kurdish fighters in the assault on the Islamic
State in Syria. Turkey has a long-standing and bitter relationship with the
Kurds and considers the PKK, which is a subgroup of the Syrian Democratic
Forces, a terrorist organization.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced charges against
members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-June, which was about
a month after the original brawl in front of the embassy. Observers
captured footage of Turkish security guards assaulting protesters. Turkish
officials claimed the protesters were linked with the PKK.
“It was an affront to our values as Washingtonians and as
Americans and a clear assault on the First Amendment,” Bowser said.
“As Americans, the First Amendment grants us the right to
assemble and protest peacefully, and here in DC we are committed to
safeguarding and protecting that right,” she added.
Erdogan has complained about the United States’ reaction
to his security forces pummeling protesters.
“If [my security guards] are not allowed to protect me in
the United States, why do I bring them there with me?” Erdogan asked.
At this point, Turkish cooperation is required to move
forward on any charges, as Erdogan’s security detail left the country shortly
after the brawl took place.
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