Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan letter spearheaded by Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Brad Sherman (D-CA), addressed to President Donald Trump, calls upon the administration to prohibit the sale of F-35s to Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
“With President Erdogan’s continued aggression toward our greatest partners along with his troubling defense partnerships with our adversaries, it is not in the best interest of our country to sell them F-35s,” stated the members.
The letter traces the origins of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program, noting that in 2019, despite repeated warnings from the U.S. and NATO allies, Erdogan purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system while still a partner in the program. This prompted the Trump administration to formally remove Turkey from the program and Congress to codify restrictions on F-35 transfers through the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Since then, the letter states, Erdogan “has only further antagonized the U.S. and our NATO allies,” pointing to Turkey’s continued military presence in Northern Cyprus, aggression toward Greece, anti-Israel rhetoric, and bilateral relations with Iran.
The letter concludes by urging maintenance of the 2019 prohibition, “any action otherwise would send the wrong message to President Erdogan and to our allies and partners both in Europe and the Middle East.”
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In recent testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Michael Rubin, Middle East Forum Director of Policy Analysis, cautioned that Turkey’s push for F-35 readmission would “privilege Turkey’s own defense industry over America’s,” arguing that arming Erdogan with F-35s would reward a government whose regional conduct counters U.S. interests.
“The Armenian Assembly of America strongly opposes the sale of F-35s to Turkey,” said Mariam Khaloyan, Director of Congressional Relations of the Armenian Assembly of America. “Providing Turkey with one of America’s most advanced defense platforms rewards a government that has repeatedly destabilized the region and supported Azerbaijan’s aggression against Armenians. This sale would send the wrong message at a time when the United States should be advancing accountability and peace in the South Caucasus.”
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
Armenian Assembly of America