Greek-American members of the US Congress have urged President Donald Trump to block any potential transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, warning that such a move would violate US law and set a dangerous precedent.
In a joint statement issued ahead of Trump’s Thursday meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Nicole Malliotakis (Republicans), along with Dina Titus and Chris Pappas (Democrats), cautioned the White House against rewarding Ankara’s defiance of NATO obligations and international norms.
Turkey’s S-400 deal at the center of dispute
Lawmakers stressed that Turkey was rightfully expelled from the Joint Strike Fighter F-35 program in 2019 after it purchased Russia’s S-400 missile defense system—a decision they argue remains a clear violation of US sanctions law under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).
“The continued possession of the S-400 while seeking access to advanced F-35 jets risks exposing sensitive US military technology to Russian intelligence,” the lawmakers warned. “It undermines NATO trust and threatens the integrity of next-generation defense platforms.”
Broader concerns over Erdogan’s record
Beyond the S-400 issue, the lawmakers pointed to Erdogan’s record of undermining democratic norms and flouting international rules—from suppressing press freedom and dissent at home to military aggression abroad that has drawn global condemnation.
Rewarding Ankara with advanced military hardware, they argue, would erode US credibility and embolden authoritarian behavior.
A risk to US foreign policy credibility
“Enforcing CAATSA sanctions is not just about upholding the law,” the statement continued. “It is essential to protecting US defense assets and reaffirming America’s commitment to accountability and the rule of law in international relations.”
The lawmakers concluded by urging Trump to stand firm: “Granting Erdogan concessions without meaningful changes in behavior would create a dangerous precedent and weaken US foreign policy.”
