[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H12287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TURKEY AND NATO

  (Mr. HILL of Arkansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, Turkey's leader has threatened to 
shut down Incirlik Air Base in retaliation for possible U.S. sanctions 
related to the Syrian border incursion and the House's acknowledgment 
of the Armenian genocide a century ago.
  What a sad day for the Atlantic Alliance that has shouldered so many 
burdens and shared so much loss in blood and treasure.
  Since the end of World War II, America has backed Turkey and her 
independence and freedom from Soviet domination, culminating with 
Turkey joining the Alliance in 1952.
  I am an original cosponsor of Representative Kinzinger's United 
States-Turkey Relations Review Act. This bill would require us to 
carefully assess the options for relocating American personnel and 
assets from Incirlik Air Base.
  Given Turkey's purchase of the Russian air defense system, the 
incursion in northeast Syria, and now threatening to close Incirlik, 
Turkey is not acting like a true and reliable partner. Turkish Prime 
Minister Erdogan's provocative behavior merits the U.S. and other NATO 
allies to consider our options in the region.

                          ____________________