Eighteen Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to House leadership on Tuesday urging them to block any attempt by...

Eighteen Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to House leadership on Tuesday urging them to block any attempt by the Trump administration to reinstate Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program, just hours before the NATO Summit gets underway. The letter, led by Rep. Dina Titus, is addressed to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The lawmakers cite recent statements by President Trump about a "big gift" he intends to give Erdogan, as well as an acknowledgment by Vice President JD Vance that a legal review is already underway to explore how such a sale could proceed. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system. Washington determined at the time that operating both systems simultaneously posed a direct threat to sensitive aircraft data. CAATSA sanctions imposed in December 2020 remain fully in force, and the lawmakers point to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's own June 3, 2026 testimony before Congress, in which he acknowledged the administration is legally bound to maintain those sanctions under current conditions. Beyond the legal argument, the signatories warn that transferring the jets would send the wrong strategic signal across the Eastern Mediterranean. The letter specifically cites Turkey's aggressive posture toward Greece and Cyprus, its backing of Azerbaijan against Armenia, and its stance toward Israel. Handing over F-35s, they argue, would reward destabilizing behavior and erode the trust of allies who actually follow the rules. "The integrity of this framework, and the message it sends to every country weighing whether to purchase Russian weapons, depends on Congress's willingness to enforce it," the letter concludes. Among the 18 signatories are several members with ties to the Greek-American community, including Chris Pappas, Frank Pallone Jr., and Robert Menendez, alongside Brad Sherman, Ted Lieu, Josh Gottheimer, and others. #Greece #Turkey #F35