WASHINGTON – US gives Turkey a big blow by blocking the sale of 100 F – 35stealth fighter jets deal.

A U.S. Senate committee passed its version of a $716 billion defensepolicy bill on Thursday, including a measure to prevent Turkey frompurchasing Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.The amendment tothe National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, from Democratic SenatorJeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis, would remove Turkey fromthe F-35 program over its detention of U.S. citizen Andrew Brunson,Shaheen’s office said.

Brunson, a Christian pastor who could be jailed for up to 35 years, deniedterrorism and spying charges in a Turkish court this month. He has been inpre-trial detention since 2016.

It also faults NATO ally Turkey for its agreement with Russia in Decemberto buy S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries. Ankara wants the system toboost its defense capabilities amid threats from Kurdish and Islamistmilitants at home and conflicts across its borders in Syria and Iraq.

According to Shaheen’s office, the intention to purchase the Russian systemis sanctionable under U.S. law.

“There is tremendous hesitancy (about) transferring sensitive F35 planesand technology to a nation who has purchased a Russian air defense systemdesigned to shoot these very planes down,” said Senator Shaheen.

Relations between Ankara and Washington have been strained over a host ofissues in recent months, including U.S. policy in Syria and a number oflegal cases against Turkish and U.S. nationals being held in the twocountries.

Turkey has said it would retaliate if the United States enacted a lawhalting weapons sales to the country.

Turkey plans to buy more than 100 of the F-35 jets, and has had talks withWashington about the purchase of Patriot missiles.