House urges Trump to halt F-35 sale to Turkey over Israel partnership, Russian intel. concerns

A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has called on the Trump administration to halt the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey. Their primary concern is Turkey's continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, which they argue poses a significant threat to American national security and sensitive U.S. military technology.

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Hardly a day goes by that Erdogan doesn't call for the destruction of the State of Israel... we will also draw the attention of our American friends to these statements.

The lawmakers detailed their concerns in a letter to the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. They stated that operating the Russian system alongside U.S. aircraft would allow Russian intelligence to gain insights into advanced U.S. technologies. Furthermore, they warned that approving the sale would weaken trust among key regional allies, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, who consistently support U.S. security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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poses a direct threat to US military aircraft, including the F-16 and the F-35, by enabling Russian intelligence to gain insights into sensitive US technologies if these systems are operated alongside one another.

Beyond defense concerns, the letter highlighted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's repeated threats against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly stated that Erdogan "hardly a day goes by that Erdogan doesn't call for the destruction of the State of Israel." Netanyahu emphasized that such threats are taken seriously and will be brought to the attention of American friends.

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Such a decision would also send the wrong message to America's allies and partners. Key US partners in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, have consistently aligned with and supported US security interests.

The lawmakers believe that granting Turkey access to advanced U.S. fighter jets despite its conduct would embolden its aggressive behavior in the region, jeopardizing stability. They also noted that a Turkish official called for the closure of the Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem, accusing it of acting as a de facto embassy for Hamas.

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Granting Ankara access to advanced American fighter aircraft despite its conduct would undermine these partnerships and embolden Turkey to intensify its aggressive behavior in the region, thereby jeopardizing the regional stability that we have worked so hard to preserve.