The Trump administration has moved forward with a $700 million arms sale to NATO ally Turkey, a decision that has bypassed Congress and drawn criticism from lawmakers concerned about Ankara's relationship with Russia and its continued possession of Russian-made air defense systems.
The State Department notified Congress of its decision to provide Turkey with defense articles, primarily fighter jet engines, without invoking emergency authority or providing a written justification, according to Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Meeks stated that the department had refused for months to provide a thorough briefing on the implications of the sale for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, Turkey's S-400 air defense system, and other regional security concerns.
Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2019 has been a significant point of contention within NATO. The U.S. and its allies consider the S-400 a threat to NATO cohesion and readiness, as it is designed to detect and track advanced stealth aircraft like the F-35. The U.S. responded by sanctioning Turkey in 2019 and excluding Ankara from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move reinforced by congressional legislation.
A State Department spokesperson, however, dismissed these concerns, stating that "Turkey is a strong member of NATO. Turkey is a significant contributor to Alliance operations and missions."
This arms sale is seen as a significant boost for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly as Turkey prepares to host the 2026 NATO summit. The sale includes engines crucial for Turkey's indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet program, the KAAN. Without U.S.-made General Electric engines, the KAAN project could face significant delays in moving from prototype to serial production, according to Gonul Tol, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute.
Tol noted that for Erdogan, the deal is more than a defense transaction; it represents a cornerstone of his foreign policy and a source of domestic political legitimacy. The success of the KAAN program, Turkey believes, could expand its defense exports and bolster NATO's industrial capacity, reinforcing Turkey's strategic importance within the alliance.
Despite congressional opposition, Erdogan has actively sought the U.S. readmission of Turkey to the F-35 program. A group of Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Jimmy Patronis, Gus Bilirakis, Mike Haridopolos, and Nicole Malliotakis, expressed strong concerns regarding the proposed sale of jet engines. They cited Turkey's perceived role as a destabilizing force in the region, its maritime claims, the occupation of Cyprus, and its stance on Israel, Russia, and Hamas as reasons for their opposition.
"We are actively engaging with the Administration and House leadership to obtain additional information regarding this reported sale and to express our strong opposition to any prospect of Turkey’s reintegration into the F-35 program without complete compliance with CAATSA requirements," their joint statement read.