Congress cuts deal on Middle East aid package

Source:al Monitor Date:26Jan2019

The previous bill would have implemented visa bans on Turkish officials involved in the detention of US citizens while banning the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Ankara if it moves ahead with purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. Today’s bill waters down both provisions.

The compromise legislation instead delays the delivery of F-35s until the Trump administration submits a report on possible sanctions resulting from Ankara’s pending S-400 purchase. It also contains no visa bans and instead requires the Trump administration to report on Ankara’s ongoing detention of US citizens and Turks employed by the State Department.