Lawmakers Sound Alarm Over Possible F-35 Sale to Turkey, Warning of Threat to Israel and U.S. Security

Congressional concern is mounting as the Trump administration weighs closer defense ties with Ankara despite Turkey’s Russian S-400 system and President Erdogan’s increasingly hostile posture toward Israel.

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – A growing number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill are warning the Trump administration against reopening the door for Turkey to acquire advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets, arguing that such a move would reward an unreliable NATO ally while potentially weakening Israel’s security and exposing sensitive American military technology.

The concern comes as a letter circulates in Washington urging House leadership to prepare a Joint Resolution of Disapproval if the Trump administration moves toward allowing Ankara back into the F-35 program. The letter is currently in the signature-gathering stage.

The debate intensified after the Trump administration formally notified Congress of its intent to approve a more than $700 million sale of General Electric F110 jet engines to Turkey for Ankara’s developing KAAN fighter jet program, according to Reuters. While that sale does not itself restore Turkey to the F-35 program, it has raised concerns that Washington may be testing the waters for a broader reset in defense ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that a review is underway to determine whether Turkey could again receive F-35 fighter jets, though he said any move would have to comply with U.S. law.

Among those sounding the alarm is Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who told ALL ISRAEL NEWS that Congress needs far more answers before any such move proceeds.

“It is concerning…there’s no secret that Erdogan and Turkey have some big question marks over them,” Harris said. “And what their plan is for the region, what their desire is for the region is extremely concerning. And I think we need to move forward with a very, very cautious, cautious move, if you will, in any of those conversations. And, I’m anxious to learn more about why this is happening and what the plan is to send F-35s over there.”

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defense system. U.S. officials warned at the time that operating the Russian system alongside America’s most advanced stealth fighter could allow Moscow to gather sensitive data about the F-35’s capabilities. Congress later enacted legal restrictions barring Turkey’s return to the program unless the S-400 issue is resolved.

For many lawmakers and defense analysts, however, the issue goes well beyond technical concerns.

Turkey remains a NATO member and hosts important American military facilities, but Erdogan has spent years pursuing an increasingly independent and often anti-Western foreign policy. Ankara has maintained working ties with Russia, repeatedly clashed with Greece and Cyprus, expanded military operations in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and hosted Hamas leaders while escalating rhetoric against Israel.

That posture has made Erdogan a deeply unpredictable figure in Washington and Jerusalem. On paper, Turkey is a U.S. ally. In practice, critics argue, Erdogan has repeatedly acted like a strategic competitor seeking leverage over both the West and Israel.

Israel and Greece have consistently opposed Turkey obtaining F-35s, warning that such a move could shift the regional balance of power and threaten their security interests. Greece has already ordered F-35s, while Israel operates its own unique version of the aircraft, which has reportedly been used in operations across Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

Israel’s ambassador to Greece, Noam Katz, told Euractiv in May that Turkey’s conduct in the region justified continued American opposition to any F-35 transfer.

“The Americans will make the decision according to their interests, but Israel believes that at this stage supplying the aircraft to Turkey is undesirable in our region,” Katz said.

The concern is especially sharp in Israel because Israeli companies have played a role in the broader F-35 supply chain, including components connected to the aircraft’s wings and helmet display systems. Jerusalem would strongly object to any scenario in which Israeli-developed technology contributed to Turkish fighter jets while Erdogan continues to threaten Israel politically and militarily.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel takes Erdogan’s threats seriously and intends to raise the matter with the U.S. administration, according to reports cited by regional media.

Democratic Rep. Dina Titus is also working to gather support for a congressional letter opposing any F-35 sale to Turkey. Other lawmakers have warned that any attempt to restore Ankara to the program would face significant resistance on Capitol Hill.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the proposed Turkish engine sale has already triggered a confrontation between the Trump administration and lawmakers, including Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who has raised concerns over Turkey’s S-400 system and broader regional behavior.

A regional intelligence official told Euractiv that the KAAN engine deal is expected to move forward, but that any breakthrough on the F-35 question may depend on Turkey transferring its S-400 system to a third country rather than sending it back to Russia.

Even then, critics say the deeper question remains unresolved: Can Erdogan be trusted with America’s most advanced fighter aircraft?

Many analysts describe Erdogan’s foreign policy as neo-Ottoman in ambition — an effort to restore Turkish influence across regions once ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Others see him attempting to position Turkey as the dominant Sunni Muslim power in the Middle East, competing not only with Iran but also with Israel and traditional Western influence.

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