Republican Lawler urges Trump to maintain ban on F-35 sales to Turkey

A new initiative in Congress aims to block the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Republican Congressman Mike Lawler has drafted a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to maintain the existing ban on such sales, which has been in place since 2019. The letter is currently gathering signatures from other members of Congress.

Lawler argues that Turkey's continued aggressive posture under President Erdoğan, coupled with its concerning defense collaborations with U.S. adversaries, makes the sale contrary to American national interests. He emphasizes the F-35 program's strategic importance as an innovative initiative designed for joint development and interoperability among allied nations.

“

Turkey's ongoing aggressive stance toward our most important partners, as well as its concerning defense partnerships with United States rivals, make such a sale contrary to the American national interest.

The congressman also recalls the Trump administration's 2019 decision to expel Turkey from the F-35 program following its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile systems. Lawler points out that congressional legislation, including the 2020 Defense Authorization Act, legally prohibits the transfer of F-35s while Turkey possesses the S-400 system.

Furthermore, Lawler highlights Turkey's military occupation of northern Cyprus, its aggressive actions toward Greece, and its increasingly harsh anti-Israel rhetoric. He concludes that despite being a NATO ally since 1952, Turkey can hardly be considered a reliable partner in the current geopolitical climate. The letter urges President Trump to uphold the 2019 policy and maintain the F-35 sale ban.

“

As you took the initiative to ban the sale of F-35s to Turkey in 2019, I urge you to maintain this ban today. Any different decision would send the wrong message to both President Erdoğan and our allies and partners in the region.