Robert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, intends to introduce amendments to the 2022 defense budget bill that would provide for reviews of violations related to the export of drones from Turkey, as well as possible restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan. This was stated in a statement issued by the Democratic senator from New Jersey.
Menendez is seeking to have the Pentagon report whether Turkish drones contain American-made components. In addition, US authorities must assess whether Ankara’s supply of these devices violates American laws.
“Turkey’s sale of drones is dangerous and destabilizes the situation and is a threat to peace and human rights,” the senator stressed. “The United States should not be a party to it; this amendment underscores that we must not allow the use of American components in this Turkish weapon.”
Menendez drew attention to the fact that “Turkish drones played a decisive role in last year’s war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” “Since then, Poland, Morocco and Ukraine have purchased the Bayraktar TB2, and a number of countries have shown interest in it, including Angola, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria and Rwanda,” the senator said.
The United States fiscal year begins on October 1 of the previous year.
