Senate to Vote on Dr. Rand Paul’s Resolution Rejecting the Sale of U.S. Arms to Hamas Advocate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 29, 2024
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate will vote on Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) Joint Resolution of Disapproval, S.J.Res.60, to reject the Biden Administration’s effort to provide Turkey with F-16 aircraft as part of an extensive arms deal. Dr. Paul introduced the resolution after the Biden Administration formally notified Congress of its intention to sell Turkey 40 new F-16s and modernize 79 existing F-16s, worth $23 billion.
Dr. Paul is expected to speak on the floor at approximately 3:05PM ET ahead of the 3:20PM ET vote.
“It is crucial for Congress to assert its oversight authority regarding foreign military sales, especially when they involve significant arms transfers to nations with a record of disregarding human rights,” said Dr. Paul. “Turkey’s President praised Hamas as a ‘liberation group,’ Turkey’s military fired at our troops in Syria, and Turkey’s authorities imprison those who dare to criticize the leader. That doesn’t sound like the actions of an ‘ally’ deserving of $23 billion worth of American firepower.”
Turkish President Erdogan’s brazen endorsement of Hamas as a “liberation group” following its heinous October 7th attack on Israel underscores disturbing advocacy for the terrorist organization. Additionally, the State Department’s 2022 Human Rights Report for Turkey exposed grave violations, including arbitrary killings, torture, and the unjust detention of thousands, including journalists and political dissidents. Turkey’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan in its brutal conflict against Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in widespread casualties and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, displacing over 100,000 individuals. Turkey also procured Russian S-400 air and missile defense systems in 2019, despite strong U.S. protests. The decision prompted the United States to remove Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program due to concerns that the S-400 could expose stealth capabilities to Russian intelligence gathering. The United States subsequently imposed sanctions on Turkey’s Defense Procurement Agency, which are still in place today. Furthermore, fellow NATO ally Greece accused Turkey of invading its airspace more than 10,000 times in 2022. President Erdogan even threatened to use military force against Greece. Given Turkey’s egregious actions, Congress must demand unequivocal adherence to human rights and the rule of law before considering a $23 billion F-16 sale to Turkey.
The joint resolution put forward by Dr. Paul prohibits the sale of a myriad of weapons systems and aircraft, including but not limited to:
- Thirty-two F–16 C Block 70 aircraft
- Eight F–16 D Block 70 aircraft
- Forty-eight F110–GE–129D engines
- One hundred forty-nine Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG)
- One hundred forty-nine AN/APG–83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR)
- One hundred sixty-nine Modular Mission Computers (MMC) 7000AHC
- One hundred fifty-nine Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
- One hundred sixty-eight Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) systems
- Eight hundred fifty-eight LAU–129 guided missile launchers
Read the full resolution here.
The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on Dr. Paul’s Joint Resolution with the support of the following organizations:
Armenian Assembly of America
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Frontiers of Freedom Institute
America Matters
Friends Committee On National Legislation
Quincy Institute
American Moment
American Friends of Kurdistan
Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC)
Middle East Forum
In Defense of Christians
Christian Solidarity International
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)
Background:
Since first being elected to office, Dr. Rand Paul has taken decisive action by introducing thirty-two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval concerning proposed arms sales to nine foreign governments: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Georgia, and Pakistan.
Additionally, Dr. Paul advanced standalone bills designed to ensure our foreign policy consistent with American principles, including the complete cessation of arms sales to Turkey, conditional military aid to Saudi Arabia contingent upon the Secretary of State’s confirmation of Jamal Khashoggi’s safety and liberty, the withholding of funds to support Islamic terrorist factions, and the imposition of restrictions on aid to Egypt until the President certifies the conduct of democratic elections after the 2013 coup.
Furthermore, Dr. Paul has proposed limitations on assistance to nations like Egypt, Libya, and Pakistan and has called for a prohibition on aid to Egypt until the President furnishes specific certifications concerning the treatment of nongovernmental organization (NGO) personnel—a testament to his commitment to upholding human rights and fostering stability through principled foreign policy measures.
Arms Sales Legislation and Resolutions:
- February 5, 2024
S.J.Res. 60, JRD – Turkey
- January 22, 2024
S.J.Res. 56, JRD – Egypt
- January 22, 2024
S.J.Res. 55, JRD – Egypt
- January 22, 2024
S.J.Res. 54, JRD – Egypt
- December 11, 2023
S.J.Res. 53, JRD – Saudi Arabia
- August 4, 2022
S.J.Res. 59, JRD – United Arab Emirates
- August 4, 2022
S.J.Res 58, JRD – Saudi Arabia
- June 23, 2022
S.J.Res.53, JRD – Australia
- June 7, 2022
S.J.Res.52, JRD – Egypt
- June 6, 2022
S.J.Res.51, JRD– Egypt
- June 6, 2022
S.J.Res.50, JRD – Egypt
- June 6, 2022
S.J.Res.49, JRD – Australia
- May 26, 2022
S.J.Res.48, JRD – Egypt
- March 30, 2022
S.J.Res.44, JRD – Bahrain
- February 7, 2022
S.J.Res.36, JRD – Egypt
- February 7, 2022
S.J.Res.35, JRD – Egypt
- November 18, 2021
S.J.Res.31 , JRD – Saudi Arabia
- October 17, 2019
S.2624— A bill to prohibit arms sales to Turkey.
- May 14, 2019
S.J.Res.26, JRD – Qatar
- May 14, 2019
S.J.Res.25, JRD – UAE
- May 14, 2019
S.J.Res 24., JRD – Czech Republic
- May 14, 2019
S.J.Res.23, JRD – Czech Republic
- May 14, 2019
S.J.Res.22, JRD – Bahrain
- May 13, 2019
S.J.Res.20, JRD – Bahrain
- November 29, 2018
S.J.Res.68, JRD – Egypt
- November 29, 2018
S.J.Res.67, JRD – Egypt
- November 29, 2019
S.J.Res.66, JRD – Qatar
- October 11, 2018
S.Res.204 – A bill to prohibit military aid to Saudi Arabia until the Secretary of State determines that Jamal Khashoggi is alive and free.
- October 10, 2018
S.J.Res.65, JRD – Bahrain
- December 7, 2017
S.J.Res.50, JRD – Georgia
- May 25, 2017
S.J.Res.42, JRD – Saudi Arabia
- March 6, 2017
S.532 – Stop Arming Terrorists Act
- September 8, 2016
S.J.Res.39, JRD – Saudi Arabia
- February 25, 2016
S.J.Res.31, JRD – Pakistan
- February 24, 2016
S.J.Res.30, JRD – Pakistan
- June 17, 2014
S.2477 – Egyptian Military Coup Act of 2014
- July 11, 2013
S.1278 – Egyptian Military Coup Act of 2013
- September 22, 2012
S.3576 – A bill to provide limitations on US assistance (Libya, Egypt, Pakistan)
- April 19, 2012
S.2327 – A bill to prohibit direct foreign assistance to the Government of Egypt until the President makes specific certifications related to the treatment of nongovernmental organization workers.
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