Congressional concern grows over Barrack comments on Turkey, F-35s

Recent comments by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack suggesting a imaginable pathway for Ankara’s instrumentality to the F-35 combatant pitchy programme person sparked strong reactions successful Congress, with lawmakers questioning whether his remarks bespeak authoritative US argumentation toward Turkey, Israel and broader determination information issues.

According to a missive circulating for signatures successful the House of Representatives and expected to beryllium sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lawmakers reason that Barrack’s statements undermine longstanding US diplomacy and rise superior concerns astatine a delicate infinitesimal for determination stability.

The missive focuses successful portion connected Barrack’s caller remarks supporting the anticipation of Turkey rejoining the F-35 programme contempt US sanctions imposed aft Ankara acquired the Russian-made S-400 rocket defence system.

Under US law, Turkey would request to region the S-400 systems, perpetrate not to get akin Russian weapons successful the aboriginal and show that it has not accepted further Russian defence systems earlier reentry into the programme could beryllium considered. Lawmakers reason that Turkey has met nary of those conditions.

Sources acquainted with the missive said members of Congress are seeking clarification from the State Department connected whether Barrack’s comments bespeak authoritative medication argumentation regarding Turkey, Israel and the F-35 program.

Lawmakers are besides asking however the State Department interprets restrictions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, oregon CAATSA, successful narration to immoderate imaginable changes successful defence practice with Turkey.

In addition, they are requesting clarification connected what conditions, if any, Turkey would request to conscionable for its information successful the F-35 programme to beryllium reconsidered.

The missive besides raises concerns implicit Barrack’s remarks astir Israel and Hezbollah, asking whether the State Department agrees that comparisons betwixt the two are inconsistent with US policy, peculiarly fixed Hezbollah’s past of attacks that person killed American citizens and work members.

Lawmakers further questioned however the State Department is ensuring that diplomatic engagement with Turkey and determination partners remains aligned with US law, NATO information requirements and broader determination stability goals.

Speaking past period astatine the Antalya Diplomacy Forum successful Turkey, Barrack described the ceasefire successful Lebanon arsenic “extremely fragile” and said each parties progressive had demonstrated arsenic unreliable behavior. He besides said two cardinal actors – Hezbollah and Iran – were absent from the process, adding: “We request a way with Hezbollah, and the way has to beryllium not sidesplitting Hezbollah.”