Greek-American lobby opposes potential F-35 sale to Türkiye

The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) is mobilizing efforts to block a potential U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye. HALC has drafted a letter urging key members of Congress, including Senator Ben Cardin, Senator James Risch, and Representatives Michael McCaul and Gregory Meeks, to oppose the deal.

The letter calls on U.S. lawmakers to deny any requests from the Biden administration or future U.S. governments to approve such a sale to Türkiye. It argues that Türkiye should not be “rewarded” by being re-included in the F-35 program, citing concerns that weapons purchased from the U.S. have allegedly been used against U.S. allies.

In 2019, Türkiye was removed from the F-35 program after purchasing the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. Meanwhile, the U.S. has given the green light for F-35 sales to Greece, fueling regional tensions over military balance.