Shaheen Statement on Admin’s Announcement to Halt Delivery of F-35 Equipment to Turkey

**Announcement Admin Will Halt F-35 Equipment Delivery Comes on the Heels of Shaheen’s Bipartisan Legislation with Senators Lankford, Tillis & Van Hollen to Delay Delivery of F-35 Aircraft to Turkey**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement in response to the administration’s announcement that it will halt delivery of F-35 equipment to Turkey. The news comes on the heels of Shaheen’s bipartisan bill with Senators Lankford (R-OK), Tillis (R-NC) and Van Hollen (D-MD) to delay transfer of the F-35 aircraft until the U.S. government certifies Turkey will not accept delivery of Russia’s S-400 defense system. 

“I’m glad the administration is heeding the bipartisan call in Congress to delay the transfer of F-35 equipment to Turkey to help ensure U.S. military technology and capabilities cannot fall into the hands of the Kremlin. Though Turkey is an important U.S. ally, their close relationship with Putin and persistent efforts to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense system could seriously compromise our national security,” said Shaheen. “This is an important step forward, but doesn’t go far enough – I’ll continue to call on the administration to prevent the delivery of the F-35 aircraft until Turkey abandons its plans to obtain the Russian defense system. Senate Republican leadership should allow a vote on my bipartisan bill with Senators Lankford, Tillis and Van Hollen that would do just this and give the administration the tools it needs to safeguard our national security.”