TAKE ACTION: Oppose to Turkey's Re-Admission into the F-35 Program

 

The American Hellenic Council (AHC) vehemently opposes any consideration by the Biden Administration to re-admit Turkey into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Turkey's decision in 2019 to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system, despite direct warnings from the United States and NATO, was not just an affront to the alliance but a blatant move against U.S. security interests. The S-400’s presence poses a significant threat by potentially compromising the F-35's capabilities. Turkey’s reckless behavior led to its expulsion from the F-35 program and its imposition under CAATSA sanctions—a move justified and necessary for protecting American and NATO interests. Revisiting this decision and lifting these sanctions, even if Turkey were to remove or "box" the S-400 system, would set a dangerous precedent, undermining U.S. credibility. It would signal to the world that America's stance can be bought and negotiated, disregarding past actions that threatened its security. The sanctions must address both Turkey’s possession and its initial choice to acquire the S-400s, reflecting its longstanding unreliability as an ally. The AHC urges the committees to categorically reject Turkey’s re-entry into the F-35 program.

Beyond the S-400, Turkey’s broader behavior under the increasingly authoritarian regime of President Erdogan raises serious concerns about granting Ankara access to advanced U.S. military technology. Erdogan’s government has shown consistent anti-American and anti-Western sentiments, from aligning with terrorist organizations like Hamas to actively collaborating with adversaries such as Iran and Russia. Turkey’s military aggression against U.S.-allied Kurdish forces, its continued illegal occupation of Cyprus, and its blatant territorial claims against Greece reveal a pattern of destabilization and expansionism that should disqualify it from any access to the F-35 program. Furthermore, President Erdogan’s obstruction of NATO’s expansion, by blocking Sweden and Finland’s memberships, only confirms his intent to undermine Western unity.

Turkey’s continuous violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), including its use of U.S.-supplied fighter jets to harass Greek airspace without provocation, blatantly contravene U.S. laws. The Biden Administration’s double standard on Turkey undermines American credibility and weakens our position in advocating for rule of law and human rights globally. Additionally, Turkey’s ongoing occupation of Cyprus—nearly fifty years after its illegal invasion using U.S. arms—remains a glaring breach of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) and the Foreign Military Sales Act (FMSA). The fact that Turkey has not faced meaningful consequences for these violations is an indictment of American policy.

The American Hellenic Council strongly appeals to the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees to take decisive action to block any Biden Administration efforts to provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets. Erdogan’s regime has proven time and again that it is neither a trustworthy partner nor a stabilizing force. Supplying Turkey with advanced military technology will only fuel further instability and jeopardize U.S. national security interests.

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