Senator Van Hollen says no F-16s for Turkey if Sweden, Finland are not admitted to NATO
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., snapped Turkey as an “unfaithful ally” on Tuesday and urged the Senate to consider efforts to block the sale of F-16s to the country. Van Hollen made the comments during an Al-Monitor PRO event, where he addressed the new Israeli government, China’s influence in the Gulf and other regional issues as well.
Van Hollen said Turkey has been an “important partner” for NATO in the past, but he criticized the Turkish government on a range of current issues, including threats to invade northern Syria. The senator said the US and EU should consider sanctioning Turkey if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thwarts Sweden’s bid for NATO membership.
“We need to work in more coordination with our EU partners and consider, potentially, different types of sanctions if Erdogan continues to block Finland’s and Sweden’s entry (to NATO),” Van Hollen said.
Turkey has opposed Sweden’s NATO bid in particular, pointing to the presence of Kurdish groups opposed to Turkey in the country. Sweden has a large Kurdish population. Most recently, the Turkish government cracked down on a Koran-burning protest in the country.
Van Hollen also said that Turkey will not receive US fighter jets from the US if Sweden and Finland are not admitted to the NATO alliance.
“There will be no F16 pilots going to Turkey unless Turkey lets Sweden and Finland in,” he said.
The Biden administration unofficially informed Congress in January of its intention to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, although the sale has not yet been formally disclosed. Congress has the ability to review arms sales and pass a motion of disapproval. The President can veto this motion, and Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Such a scenario is unlikely due to the high barrier to passage.
Van Hollen said there is no scenario where the F-16 sale goes through without Turkey ratifying Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership.
“If there was a formal filing (about the F-16 sale) now, yes, a resolution of disapproval would be filed,” said Van Hollen, who claimed a “majority” of the Senate agrees.
Van Hollen also said he believes President Joe Biden is unlikely to move forward with the F-16 sale without Sweden and Finland joining NATO.
“Obviously the president could veto it,” Van Hollen said of the potential for a resolution of disapproval from Congress, “but I don’t think the president wants to file under that scenario.”
The senator also said the US and Europe should consider sanctions against Turkey if it follows through on its threat to attack US-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, adding that “the risk is real” of a Turkish military operation.
“There must be consequences in terms of US joint European action; that would be in the form of sanctions,” Van Hollen said. “At least there must be economic sanctions.”
Van Hollen also expressed concern about the new Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The coalition includes some far-right Jewish nationalist politicians, above all national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The senator said the government includes “extreme right-wing elements and elements that have been racist in their past behavior with Palestinians and Arabs.”
Van Hollen called Ben-Gvir’s party the “successor” to Kahanism. This is a reference to the late American-Israeli Rabbi Meir Kahane, who specifically called for Arabs to be expelled from Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The senator noted that the US position remains to support a two-state solution to the conflict. He said the current Israeli government’s view is “directly at odds” with this.
Netanyahu’s government has promised increase Jewish settlements in the West Bankfor example.
Van Hollen also spoke about the killing of Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces last year. Israel eventually acknowledged that the Al Jazeera journalist was killed by Israeli fire but has refused to cooperate with a US government investigation into her death. The senator said he has followed up with the Justice Department on the matter, but because the DOJ does not comment on ongoing reports, “we have not seen progress” on the Biden administration’s demands for an independent investigation and for the Israeli military to review its rules of engagement.
The discussion also touched on the war in Ukraine and its connection to the Middle East. Van Hollen cited the Treasury Department sending its top sanctions official, Brian Nelson, to the United Arab Emirates and Turkey next week.
“Turkey and the United Arab Emirates … those are two countries where we’ve been very concerned. We’re seeing a leakage of the sanctions regime,” Van Hollen said.
Reuters reported on Saturday that Nelson will warn Turkey and the United Arab Emirates about Russian sanctions evasion. The US has also accused Emirati entities of evading Iran sanctions in recent months.
Van Hollen also discussed China’s efforts to establish closer ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – two countries close to the United States. Van Hollen said the US is particularly “concerned” about the UAE’s relationship with Chinese tech giant Huawei because of the presence of US security systems in the Gulf state.
When it comes to US security assistance to the Gulf states, Van Hollen said China is far behind the US.
“We have long-standing relationships in the Middle East, including the security relationship, which China will not be able to replace in the foreseeable future,” he said.
President of China Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in December.
Van Hollen also spoke highly of new Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, saying the prime minister sees the US troop presence in Iraq as a “stabilizing force.” At the time, Van Hollen said the United States is “very concerned” about Iran-backed militias in the Iraqi government.
As for the Iran nuclear deal, Van Hollen said “talks are in cold storage.”
Negotiations on the US’s return to the deal stalled last year after Iran’s violent crackdown on protests and riots in the country.
Van Hollen currently sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.