USA: Congress reacting to Turkish veto of Finland and Sweden joining NATO

US senators have questioned Turkey's credibility as a US ally, following Ankara's refusal to support Finland and Sweden in joining NATO.

"Turkey's objections caused concern on Wednesday at the Capitol," the Washington Post wrote in an article. According to the same report, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, was highly critical, arguing that this latest move by Ankara comes in addition to the wider concerns that already exist about Turkey's credibility as a US ally, following the purchase of Russian S-400s and Ankara's refusal to participate in Western sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Menendez even noted that this latest Turkish maneuver is taking place at a time when Turkey is looking to buy dozens of new F-16 fighter jets from the United States, which, in order to do so, must first receive the green light from the Biden administration and the US Congress. "I hope the administration will take note of this as it examines (the agreement on) the F-16s," Menendez said, stressing that Erdogan would have to act differently if the US side wanted to take into account any of his own requests.

Senator Tom Tillis, co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, was more optimistic, however, that the issue would eventually be resolved, as the United States has a number of pressure levers that could be used against Turkey.

"I will not go to Turkey but I think we will be fine," said US President Joe Biden, when asked by reporters.

With information from the Washington Post