New Push in Washington to Reinstate Turkey in F-35 Program
A new round of diplomacy has begun in Washington to bring Turkey back into the F-35 program and lift U.S. sanctions. Turkish-American groups operating in the United States delivered a joint letter to more than 50 members of Congress in support of the F-35 sale.
RastinewsA new round of diplomacy has begun in Washington over reinstating Turkey in the F-35 program and lifting U.S. sanctions. Turkish-American civic organizations based in the United States visited more than 50 members of Congress, personally delivering a joint letter urging support for the F-35 sale.
The letter, signed by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), the Federation of Turkish American Associations (TADF), the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), MÜSİAD USA, the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce of the South (TACCS) and ASKON USA, called for strengthening defense cooperation between Ankara and Washington.
Congress urged on F-35
The letter, sent to more than 50 members of Congress, asked lawmakers to support the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and to remove the sanctions and obstacles blocking defense cooperation.
"We ask you to support the sale of F-35 fighter jets and to remove the unnecessary sanctions and obstacles standing in the way of this cooperation," the letter said.
The letter argued that the F-35 sale matters not only for Turkish-American relations but for NATO's military cohesion and regional security.
NATO and regional security
The Turkish-American organizations said Turkey's growing defense industry aligns with U.S. policy encouraging Europe to take on more responsibility for its own security.
Washington also benefits from Turkey working with Western, NATO-aligned defense suppliers, the letter said, pointing to Ankara's mediation efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war and its role in Syria.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after buying Russia's S-400 air defense system and became the target of U.S. sanctions under CAATSA. The F-35 and sanctions dispute remains one of the main points of contention in defense relations between Washington and Ankara.