F-35s. Photo: USAF
The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Monday that could open the way for blocking or slowing down the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey amid a number of unresolved disputes that have strained bilateral relationship over the past few years.
The recent move came after a bill approved by the House of Representatives. Both Senate and the House of Representatives have their own bills that envisage blocking delivery of the F-35s to Turkey. The Senate would prevent the transfer until Pentagon devises a plan to remove Turkey from the joint programme.
“The decision is an unfortunate development,” Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in initial reaction.
He noted that “Turkey is not without alternatives.”
“Such attempts are regrettable and goes against the soul of strategic partnership,” Hurriyet daily news quoted the prime minister.
The vote was 85-10 in the Senate dominated by the Republican Party.
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