US Congress agrees on defense bill calling for sanctions against Turkey
The US House of Representatives has reached an agreement on a defense bill setting policy for the Department of Defense, Bianet news agency reported.
As the agency details, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) calls for sanctions on Turkey over its procurement of the S-400 air defense systems from Russia and a "tough response" to North Korea's development of nuclear weapons.
The 738-billion-dollar bill also includes measures to compete with Russia and China and the creation of a "space military force."
The bill prohibits the transfer of F-35 joint strike fighter planes to Turkey. Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 program in July over the purchase of the S-400s. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, opposing the decision, repeatedly said that Turkey is not a customer, but a producer of the jets.
The NDAA says the President should impose sanctions on Turkey over the S-400 purchase.
It is reminded that Turkey signed a contract with Russia in April 2017 to acquire the S-400 anti-missile systems. The first batch of the systems was delivered to Turkey in July.