K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
US Senator Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a piece of legislation on Thursday that seeks to track and restrict the sale of American parts to Turkey's drone programme.
The legislation, an amendment to Congress' annual defence spending bill, would require the Biden administration to issue a report on Turkish drone exports beginning in 2018 and whether any of their drones contain American-made parts.
It would also require the administration to assess whether Turkey's drone exports are in violation of the US Arms Export Control Act or any other law.
The Arms Export Control Act requires that any weapons the US gives to foreign governments, or in this case parts for a weapon, be only used for legitimate self-defence.
"Turkey's drone sales are dangerous, destabilizing and a threat to peace and human rights," Menendez said in a statement.
"The US should have no part of it, and this amendment is a recognition that we must prevent US parts from being included in these Turkish weapons."
Menendez also introduced another amendment that would end an exemption used to continue providing assistance to the government of Azerbaijan, which fought a conflict against Armenian forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last year.
"As the regime in Baku, with Turkey's support, continues choosing a path of violence instead of a peaceful, negotiated process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is long past time for this and all future administrations to halt this type of assistance and fully respect Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act," Menendez said.
During the conflict, Turkey shipped at least six armed attack drones to Baku while Turkish military staff helped shape Azerbaijan's strategy to capture the territory.
Continue reading: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/top-us-senator-introduces-legislation-track-us-drone-parts-turkey
The legislation, an amendment to Congress' annual defence spending bill, would require the Biden administration to issue a report on Turkish drone exports beginning in 2018 and whether any of their drones contain American-made parts.
It would also require the administration to assess whether Turkey's drone exports are in violation of the US Arms Export Control Act or any other law.
The Arms Export Control Act requires that any weapons the US gives to foreign governments, or in this case parts for a weapon, be only used for legitimate self-defence.
"Turkey's drone sales are dangerous, destabilizing and a threat to peace and human rights," Menendez said in a statement.
"The US should have no part of it, and this amendment is a recognition that we must prevent US parts from being included in these Turkish weapons."
Menendez also introduced another amendment that would end an exemption used to continue providing assistance to the government of Azerbaijan, which fought a conflict against Armenian forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region last year.
"As the regime in Baku, with Turkey's support, continues choosing a path of violence instead of a peaceful, negotiated process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is long past time for this and all future administrations to halt this type of assistance and fully respect Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act," Menendez said.
During the conflict, Turkey shipped at least six armed attack drones to Baku while Turkish military staff helped shape Azerbaijan's strategy to capture the territory.
Continue reading: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/top-us-senator-introduces-legislation-track-us-drone-parts-turkey
