The Trump administration is proceeding with a contentious arms deal worth $700 million to Turkey, a NATO ally, despite worries about Turkey’s ties to Russia and certain Middle Eastern terrorist groups.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from New York, noted that Congress had been bypassed. He mentioned that he was informed by the State Department about the plan to send defense supplies to Turkey, primarily parts for fighter jets.
“The State Department didn’t even attempt to justify this decision. There was no invocation of emergency powers, no written explanation, and they didn’t engage with my requests for clarity on how this sale could affect U.S.-Turkey relations, Turkey’s hold on the Russian S-400 system, or regional security issues,” Meeks stated in a message shared with a news outlet.
Turkey signed a deal with Russia in 2017 to acquire the S-400 air defense system, completing the purchase in 2019. This move raised alarms within NATO, as the U.S. and the alliance perceived it as a threat to intelligence integrity and operational readiness.
The S-400 is designed to detect and track stealth aircraft like the F-35. A report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies cautioned that “Turkey possessing both the S-400 and F-35 is perilous, as the systems could grant Russia intelligence to target F-35s flown by American or allied forces.”
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey in 2019 following these developments and removed Ankara from the F-35 program, also passing a law preventing Turkey’s participation while it maintains the S-400 system.
The State Department, however, downplayed the implications of U.S. arms sales amid Turkey’s ownership of Russian defense equipment.
Many believe this arms deal is crucial for Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is set to host a NATO summit in Ankara in 2026.
According to Middle East Institute researcher Gonur Tolu, the sale of American engines is vital for Turkey’s ambitious KAAN fifth-generation fighter project. Turkey is in the process of creating its own engine, though it won’t be completed for several years. Without access to the American GE engine, Tolu noted, transitioning KAAN from prototype to production would be challenging.
Tolu, attending the NATO summit, indicated that this deal represents more than just a defense sale; it is pivotal for Erdoğan’s foreign policy and bolsters his political standing domestically.
President Erdoğan, who maintains a cooperative relationship with President Trump, is pushing for Turkey’s return to the F-35 program, despite Congressional objections.
A group of Republican representatives—four from Florida and one from New York—issued a joint statement expressing concern over the proposed aircraft engine sale to Turkey. They highlighted Turkey’s destabilizing influence in the region, including its expansive maritime claims and the illegal occupation of Cyprus, along with its antagonistic rhetoric towards Israel.
The statement cautioned that while the Eastern Mediterranean could become a space for energy cooperation and regional security, Turkey’s actions and rhetoric contradict these possibilities. They also emphasized their intent to work with the administration for additional measures, stressing the need for compliance related to Turkey’s involvement with the F-35 program.
A representative from the Turkish government did not respond when asked for comments on this situation.
