Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, one of President Trump's closest Greek-American allies, says he opposes all arms s...

Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, one of President Trump's closest Greek-American allies, says he opposes all arms sales to Turkey, calling the country untrustworthy and pointing out that at least one proposed deal is already illegal under U.S. law. Bilirakis, who arrives in Athens on Wednesday for meetings with Prime Minister Mitsotakis and other government officials, told Kathimerini he has signed a joint letter with Congressman Mike Lawler and personally spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast to block the sale of engines for Turkey's KAAN fighter jet and any possible F-35 transfer. He cited the CAATSA statute, which he says flatly bars Turkey from receiving F-35s after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system. On the KAAN engines, Bilirakis was equally firm, saying Turkey's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia in any recent joint statement proves it is not acting as a reliable NATO partner. "It is not a team player," he said. Bilirakis also confirmed he co-chairs the Hellenic-Israel Alliance in Congress alongside Representative Schneider, and that the two are publishing a joint op-ed in Kathimerini addressing both weapons issues directly. He said Chairman Mast told him last week that no informal notification of a possible F-35 sale has yet been received. On U.S.-Greece ties, Bilirakis described the relationship as stronger than ever, pointing to Greece's granting of access to Alexandroupolis, Volos, and Souda Bay as major strategic assets for American operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. He also referenced a recently opened energy cooperation center in Texas linking Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States under the 3+1 framework, a project he personally secured funding for. Bilirakis said he plans to raise the Turkey arms issue directly with President Trump during his current trip, and that he has already briefed Trump on the Turkish "Blue Homeland" doctrine, which he described as deeply concerning. #Greece #Turkey #USGreece