{"id":44707,"date":"2018-05-09T18:44:29","date_gmt":"2018-05-09T18:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/09\/turkey-threatens-us-over-bill-seeking-to-halt-weapons-sales\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:47:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:47:07","slug":"turkey-threatens-us-over-bill-seeking-to-halt-weapons-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2018\/05\/09\/turkey-threatens-us-over-bill-seeking-to-halt-weapons-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkey threatens US over bill seeking to halt weapons sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ANKARA, Turkey \u2014 A U.S. bill that would halt weapons sales to Turkey risks terminating all procurement deals between the two NATO allies, according to Turkish officials and procurement official. But a U.S. diplomatic source is downplaying the impact of the move, saying it would not be the end of a decades-long defense and security alliance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevl\u00fct Cavu\u015fo\u011flu said May 6 that the country would retaliate if the U.S. enacts the proposed law, calling the measures in the bill \u201cwrong, illogical and not fitting between the NATO allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the United States imposes sanctions on us or takes such a step, Turkey will absolutely retaliate. What needs to be done is the U.S. needs to let go of this,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4 released details of a $717 billion annual defense policy bill, including a measure to temporarily halt weapons sales<\/a> to Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTurkey and the U.S. have been strong allies since the 1950s. In this period there have been ups and downs in arms trade and programs. None has completely derailed our military ties,\u201d the U.S. diplomatic source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washington imposed an arms embargo on Turkey following the Turkish invasion of the northern third of Cyprus in 1974. The invasion was in response to a Greek coup that aimed to annex Cyprus to Greece. The island has been divided along ethnic Turkish and Greek lines ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Defense Department would have to provide Congress with a report on the relationship between the NATO allies. Sales of major defense equipment would be blocked until the report is completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One immediate casualty could be the U.S.-led, multinational Joint Strike Fighter program in which Turkey is a partner. Turkey has committed to acquire a batch of more than 100 F-35 fighter aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\t