Ignoring Opposition, U.S. Government Advances Military Sale of Aircraft Engines to Turkey

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 26 - The U.S. government has recently been reported to have officially notified Congress of its plan to sell dozens of fighter jet engines to Turkey, with the total value of this arms sale exceeding $700 million. This move has faced opposition from some Democratic members of Congress.

According to a report by Reuters on the 25th, the U.S. State Department stated in a notification submitted to Congress late on the 24th: "The U.S. government is prepared to issue licenses for the export of these fighter jet engines and has comprehensively considered political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control factors."

The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to this news.

According to Reuters, these engines, produced by General Electric, will power Turkey's first domestically produced fighter jet, the "Kaan."

The "Kaan" fighter jet is developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries and successfully made its maiden flight on February 21, 2024. Turkey describes it as a fifth-generation fighter capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, intended to replace the Air Force's current F-16 fighter jets.

Turkey and the U.S. are both NATO member countries, but in recent years, there have been ongoing disagreements regarding defense procurement. Reports suggest that this arms sale is seen as an important gesture of goodwill from the U.S. towards Turkey.

In 2017, Turkey signed a contract with Russia to purchase the S-400 air defense missile system, which faced strong opposition from the U.S. and NATO. After Russia began delivering the S-400 in July 2019, the U.S. prohibited Turkey from participating in the manufacturing and purchasing of the F-35 fighter jets and imposed sanctions on senior officials in Turkey's defense industry. The U.S. claims that the Russian-made S-400 system is incompatible with NATO's air defense systems and could help Russia track F-35 aircraft.

Due to NATO's European allies' reluctance to support U.S. military actions against Iran, President Trump has recently expressed dissatisfaction multiple times. The NATO summit is scheduled to be held in Ankara, Turkey, from July 7 to 8. Trump recently stated that out of respect for the host, Turkish President Erdogan, he would attend the summit.

When asked on the 24th about the sale of fighter jet engines, the F-35 program, and summit plans, Trump said: "I might do something to make them very happy."

Trump views Erdogan as a key ally. Erdogan is set to visit the White House in September 2025 for a meeting with Trump. At that time, Trump urged Turkey to stop purchasing Russian oil while hinting at the possibility of lifting restrictions on Turkey's purchase of F-35 fighter jets.

However, this arms sale faces significant resistance in Congress. Two sources said that Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks from the House Foreign Affairs Committee raised objections during the informal review stage, stating, "These fighter jet engines will not be delivered for several years." Meeks criticized the government in a statement released on the 24th for failing to "sincerely" explain to him the impact of this arms sale on bilateral relations and the issues raised by Turkey's possession of the S-400 system.

Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus from Nevada stated on social media: "If the president continues down this path, I will introduce a joint resolution to oppose it."

According to regulations, the U.S. Congress has 15 days to introduce a joint resolution to block the transaction. Such resolutions must be passed by both the House and Senate and may ultimately be vetoed by Trump. (Liu Xi)