US Congress is aiming to block sales of F-35 joint strike fighters to Turkey and limit Washington’s support for Saudi war on Yemen in the final version of the fiscal 2019 defense bill.
According to House Armed Services Committee senior aides, the Pentagon must first submit a report to the lawmakers about the “overall strategic relationship with Turkey,” all foreign weapons sales to Ankara and its decision to buy the Russian-made S-400 long-range air-defense system, The Hill reported Monday.
The move was made in spite of Defense Secretary James Mattis’s request.
Ninety days after the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the report would be due.
The Pentagon chief had asked lawmakers not to block the sale of the Lockheed Martin-made jets, arguing that it could start a “supply chain disruption” push their price higher.
“At this time, I oppose removal of Turkey from the F-35 program,” Mattis wrote in a July…