Sen. Cruz: As Long as There Is a Chance of Moving Past Current Impasse With Turkey, Sanctions Are Premature

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding legislation to sanction Turkey:

"Turkey is a NATO ally and I would like to keep it that way, but the primary purpose of that alliance is to defend Europe and the rest of the world against Russian aggression and weaponry, and that has to be preserved. As I said to President Erdogan at the White House last month, part of that alliance means not installing Russian weapons systems that could undermine U.S. national security, and as long as Turkey continues to procure or deploy the S-400 air defense system from Russia, the U.S. will not sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. It's one or the other. He cannot have both. At the same time, as long as there is a chance of productively moving past the current impasse with Turkey, I believe sanctions that could drive Turkey further into the arms of Russia are premature, which is why I voted against the legislation in Committee today."

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