U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) on July 16 introduced the bipartisan Countering Russia’s Export of Arms Act to punish Turkey for making an arms deal with Russia.
“The NATO alliance is critically important to the United States and our allies, but in order to keep it a strong partnership, our NATO members must uphold the principles, duties and obligations of our alliance,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “Turkey has continued to make questionable decisions that do not reflect leadership of a NATO nation.”
In fact, Rep. Kinzinger said that Turkey one year ago ignored warnings from NATO members about this specific arms deal with Russia and accepted its first installment of the Russian-made S-400 air and missile defense system.
If enacted, the legislation would impose sanctions on the Government of Turkey for its acquisition of the S-400 air and missile defense system from the Russian Federation, according to the text of the bill, which Rep. Kinzinger sponsored with original cosponsors U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).
Specifically, H.R. 7639 would designate Turkey’s acquisition as a “significant transaction” pursuant to Section 231 of the federal law, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
“We need to make it very clear that their actions will not be tolerated and will be met with serious consequences,” said Rep. Kinzinger. “Our legislation does that and makes the actions by Turkey an explicitly sanctionable offense.”
Rep. McCaul pointed out that a NATO ally purchasing a Russian air defense system presents a threat to the United States and to the NATO alliance.
“The administration must impose the sanctions required by law in response to Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400, unless and until Turkey takes the steps outlined in this bill to repair the damage this purchase has caused,” he said. “I sincerely hope that Turkey chooses the U.S. and our NATO allies over Russia.”
The bill has been referred to five different committees in the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.