A bipartisan group of 17 US House lawmakers called on President Donald Trump to cancel a planned White House visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. In a letter led by House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), the 15 House Democrats and two Republicans said Turkey's invasion of northern Syria last month "has had disastrous consequences for US national security, has led to deep divisions in the NATO alliance and caused a humanitarian crisis on the ground." "Given this situation, we believe that now is a particularly inappropriate time for President Erdogan to visit the United States, and we urge you to rescind this invitation," they added. The letter, dated Nov. 8, also referenced Erdogan's decision to purchase the Russian S-400 system, which the US had warned was not compatible with NATO forces and could serve to aid Russian intelligence. In response, Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 program, in which Ankara was a manufacturer and buyer. The White House had no immediate comment on the congressional letter. The US House of Representatives had also passed a resolution recognizing the mass killings of Armenians a century ago as a genocide, which was seen as a strong rebuke against the Turkish government. House lawmakers also passed sweeping sanctions legislation targeting arms sales to Turkey, financial institutions and top Turkish military officials in response to the Turkish incursion in Syria. In an interview on Sunday, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Trump plans to confront Erdogan during his White House visit over the purchase of the S-400 and warned Turkey will "feel the impact" of sanctions if it keeps the platform. — Agencies
