American lawmakers are working to build a congressional firewall against Turkey rejoining the F-35 program, after Presid...

American lawmakers are working to build a congressional firewall against Turkey rejoining the F-35 program, after President Trump left the door open to a new defense arrangement with Ankara ahead of the NATO Summit in Turkey. Democratic Representative Dina Titus of Nevada is leading a signature drive urging House leadership to prepare a joint resolution of disapproval, the legislative tool under the Arms Export Control Act that allows Congress to block a major arms sale after the administration formally notifies it. The letter is addressed to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The lawmakers' core argument is straightforward: Turkey still possesses the Russian S-400 air defense system, the reason it was removed from the F-35 program in 2019. According to the letter, there is no public evidence Turkey has removed the system, taken it out of operational use, or addressed the original cause of its sanctions. The letter also cites Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who acknowledged at a June 3 House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that the administration is legally bound to maintain sanctions on Turkey and cannot bring Ankara back into the F-35 program. CAATSA sanctions imposed by the first Trump administration in December 2020 on Turkey's defense procurement agency remain in effect and have not been revoked. The push is expected to cross party lines. According to To Vima, Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast of Florida is expected to be briefed next week on the F-35 issue and Turkey's continued possession of the S-400. It is unclear whether Mast requested the briefing himself or whether the State Department arranged it, a distinction that could signal either bipartisan concern or the administration managing congressional opposition ahead of any formal sale decision. Vice President JD Vance also added pressure by stating that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team are actively reviewing how a potential sale could legally move forward, suggesting the administration is at least exploring options. #Turkey #F35 #NATO