Turkish FM: "We will not abide by the condition of the US Congress regarding F-16s"

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoğlu said that they will not comply with particular conditions of an amendment recently made to a defense policy legislation by the United States Congress.

Members of the US Congress voted to add a provision 14 June, a part of which requires that in the case of the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, the Biden administration has to certify that they will not be used to violate Greek airspace.

Cavusoglu said Thursday in a broadcast of Turkish state TV TRT:

"True, we took steps to provide F-16 fighters from the United States, but we will not abide by a condition that will render us totally helpless. What does it say in the amendment? Airspace of Greece. What do you mean when you say Greek airspace? There are islands that Greece unfairly says 'mine,' just like we could say there are islands and isles belonging to neither party are ours; I mean, the ownership should be determined by treaties, like we previously said. How do they explain it when they say Greece is right?"