Van Hollen Secures Amendment to Halt the Transfer of F-35s to Turkey Until Secretary of State Certifies Turkey Will Not Acquire Russian S-400 Missile Defense System

Statement

Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that he successfully secured language as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act that would expressly prohibit spending funds from Fiscal Year 2019 -- as well as prior fiscal years -- to transfer, or facilitate the transfer, of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Turkey until the Secretary of State certifies that Turkey isn't purchasing and won't accept deliveries of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. The amendment, which passed with strong bipartisan support in Committee, was sponsored by Chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Senior defense officials have said that if Turkey operates both the F-35 and the S-400, it could compromise the F-35's security, including the aircraft's stealth capabilities, and represent a strategic threat to the United States. It would also compromise the security of our allies and stand in clear violation of the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act. This new legislative language goes a step further than the National Defense Authorization Act that the Senate passed this week, which restricts funding on the transfer of F-35 aircrafts to Turkey until the Secretary of Defense issues a report on removing Turkey from the F-35 program.

"I support the transfer of F-35 advanced aircraft to Turkey, but not if they proceed with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system -- this move would jeopardize the national security of the United States and our other allies. Turkey's acquisition of both systems would allow the Russians to more easily evaluate the capabilities of the F-35 and detect and exploit its vulnerabilities. That is unacceptable. This provision makes it clear that if Turkey ignores the concerns of its NATO allies and moves forward with this partnership with Putin, it will no longer receive F-35s," said Senator Van Hollen.

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