A bipartisan group of US lawmakers urged President Donald Trump in a May 7 letter to oppose any sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, citing Turkey’s Russian S-400 missile system and regional provocations, the Pappas Post reported on Tuesday.
The letter warned that Turkey’s retention of the S-400 system makes it incompatible with NATO and US technology.
Lawmakers noted that Turkey was removed from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
They cautioned that readmitting Turkey would violate the law that bars transfer of F-35 parts or support while the S-400 remains active.
The letter detailed Turkey’s incursions into Greek airspace and challenges to Cypriot economic zones under its “Blue Homeland” policy.
It pointed to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ties to senior Hamas leaders and his vocal support for the group.
The lawmakers stressed that Erdoğan’s crackdown on the political opposition, including the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, undermines democracy.
They argued that restoring Turkey to the F-35 program would erode US alliances with Greece and Cyprus and endanger NATO cohesion.
The letter urged Trump to press Erdoğan on human rights and rule of law in any discussions about defense ties.
The lawmakers warned that any F-35 deal would upset the strategic balance in the region and embolden Erdoğan’s “neo-Ottoman” agenda.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised concerns over the possibility of an F-35 sale to Turkey in a closed-door Knesset session, according to Doron Kadosh, the military correspondent of Israeli Army Radio.
Kadosh cites Israeli officials as saying Turkey’s acquisition of advanced fighter jets would threaten their air superiority and could lead to direct confrontation, especially in Syrian airspace.
Since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Turkey has launched Operation Dawn of Freedom in northern Syria, while Israel has occupied parts of southern Syria near Druze communities.
The two countries now control opposing zones of influence in Syria, raising concerns of a future clash.
Media in both countries have reported heightened tensions, with some accounts suggesting Turkish aircraft have already conducted warning flights near Israeli operations.
Despite the controversy, Trump has described Erdoğan as “a friend” and suggested he may visit Turkey during his Middle East tour.
He has also floated lifting sanctions on Syria as a goodwill gesture, prompting further criticism from Israeli and congressional officials.
Turkey has demanded a refund of the $1.4 billion it paid into the F-35 program before its 2019 removal.
While previous discussions focused on redirecting those funds toward F-16 sales, recent Turkish statements suggest a renewed focus on rejoining the F-35 program.
Any reversal of current US policy would likely require approval from Congress.