The US Senate voted to override President Trump’s veto of a defense bill on Friday, mandating sanctions on Turkey, in what comes as the first bipartisan rebuke of the President by way of a veto override in his four-year tenure, according to greekreporter.com.
In the overwhelming 81-13 vote, senators from both parties voted to override Trump’s veto of the $740.5 billion National Defense Authorization Act, a bill enacted annually for 60 years with bipartisan support.
The comprehensive bill would offer substantial pay raises to American soldiers, benefits to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, as well as remove names of Confederate leaders from military bases. It also allocates funds for the US to purchase more advanced weapons systems.
Notably, the bill also includes provisions for a mandate to sanction Turkey for its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air missile defense system. Currently, Turkey is the first and only NATO member to buy the dangerous missile system.
Now that the massive defense bill has been approved, President Trump must impose sanctions on Turkey within 30 days.
If Trump refuses to impose the sanctions, which include a ban on US banking and property transactions, the denial of US visas to those sanctioned, and forcing US lenders to deny loans to any sanctioned companies, they will fall on President-elect Joe Biden when he assumes office on January 20.
The legislation also includes a provision that would authorize the US Air Force Secretary to use the six Turkish F-35A aircraft that were never delivered to Ankara after Turkey was suspended from the F-35 program.
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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Martin Falbisoner
