The amendment prohibiting the sale of new F16s, modernization kits, and upgraded technology to Turkey and any entity associated with Turkey has been blocked.

One of the two amendments for the F-16 upgrade ban or the sale of new fighters to Turkey “passed” by the competent committee of the US House, as reported by ERT.

The next parliamentary stage is its approval by the plenary session of the Parliament, which is estimated to happen by the end of July.

The amendment prohibits the sale of new F16s, modernization kits, and upgraded technology to Turkey and any entity associated with Turkey.

However, the amendment leaves a window open that allows the president to waive the restrictions if he certifies to Congress that doing so is in the vital national security interest of the US and if he details the measures taken to ensure that F-16s are not used for overflights above Hellas.

Specifically, the amendment, which will be included in the budget of the US Department of Defense, states the following:

The (US) President may not sell or authorize the export of new F-16 aircraft or F-16 upgrade technology or modernization kits under any authority under the Arms Export Control Act (22 USC 2751 et seq. e.) to the government of Turkey or any agency or agency of Turkey, unless the (US) President provides to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Congressional Defense Committees that:

This transfer is in the national interest of the United States and details the specific measures taken to ensure that such F-16s are not used by Turkey for repeated unauthorized overflights over Greece.

The two amendments were filed by Reps. Chris Pappas and Frank Pallon