Closely watched legislation foreseeing a significant boost in US support for Greece’s military modernization was passed by Congress on Wednesday, with the draft bill now needing only US President Joe Biden’s signature to become federal law.
The bill for the US defense budget was finally approved in the House of Representatives, which includes an amendment that provides for the freeze of defense equipment delivery to Turkey until the Pentagon has drafted and delivered a special report to Congress on US-Turkey relations.
The result of the vote (351-66) shows cross-party support in the draft law itself and in the individual amendment concerning Turkey.
The next steps are for the Senate to agree and the President to sign the bill.
Thirty-six members of the US House of Representatives encouraged US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to continue the active engagement by the State Department in the Eastern Mediterranean, including against Turkish threats concerning the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).