A bipartisan group of members of Congress is urging President Donald Trump to reject any effort to return Turkey to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
The lawmakers argue that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has become an increasingly unreliable NATO ally while maintaining close ties to Russia and Iran.
In their Thursday letter to the president, the lawmakers warned that selling America's most advanced stealth fighter to Ankara would undermine U.S. national security, violate existing federal law, and send the wrong signal to allies across Europe and the Middle East.
The effort is being led by Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., with additional signatures from Republican Reps. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, Gus Bilirakis of Floriday, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Max Miller of Ohio, and Young Kim of California, along with Democrat Reps. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Gabe Amo of Rhode Island, and Jared Moskowitz of Florida.
The coalition reflects growing bipartisan concern over Turkey's recent foreign policy direction.
"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," the lawmakers wrote.
They added that although Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952, it has "hardly been a reliable partner in the present day."
The letter comes as the Trump administration has reportedly explored the possibility of restoring Turkey's participation in the F-35 program following discussions among Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Turkish officials.
Reuters previously reported that the administration also notified Congress of a proposed sale of F110 fighter jet engines to Turkey, fueling renewed debate over U.S.-Turkish defense ties.
Congress previously removed Turkey from the multinational F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara purchased the Russian-made S-400 air defense system despite repeated warnings from Washington and NATO allies.
Lawmakers noted that Congress later codified the prohibition in the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, requiring Turkey to completely dispose of the S-400 system before any transfer of F-35 aircraft or related equipment can occur.
According to congressional supporters of the ban, Turkey has not satisfied any of those legal conditions.
Security analysts argue the concern extends well beyond politics.
Because the S-400 is specifically designed to detect and track advanced stealth aircraft, operating it alongside the F-35 could expose sensitive information about the fighter's radar signature and electronic systems.
Defense experts have warned that such intelligence could ultimately benefit Russia and undermine the effectiveness of F-35 fleets operated by the U.S. and numerous NATO allies.
The lawmakers also highlighted Erdogan's increasingly confrontational regional policies.
Their letter cites Turkey's continued military occupation of northern Cyprus, repeated maritime and air disputes with Greece, growing anti-Israel rhetoric, and ongoing bilateral relations with Iran as evidence that Ankara has moved away from traditional alliance priorities.
Turkey's relationship with Israel has deteriorated sharply since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre of Israelis.
Erdogan has repeatedly condemned Israel's military operations in Gaza in harsh language, publicly defended Hamas despite its designation by America as a terrorist organization, and accused Israel of committing atrocities.
Critics argue that such rhetoric has deepened tensions throughout the Middle East at a time when Washington is seeking greater regional stability.
Several policy organizations opposing the sale also argue that Turkey's support for Hamas leaders and its close economic and diplomatic contacts with Iran raise additional concerns about sharing America's most sophisticated military technology.
They contend that rewarding Ankara with the F-35 would undermine trusted regional partners including Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, all of which have strengthened defense cooperation with Washington in recent years.
The debate has taken on additional urgency following the war in Iran.
Trump himself recently remarked that Turkey had been considering entering the conflict on Iran's side before ultimately refraining.
While Ankara denied any intention of joining the fighting, Trump's comments underscored growing questions in Washington regarding Turkey's strategic alignment during one of the Middle East's most dangerous crises.
Supporters of the congressional effort argue those concerns reinforce the wisdom of maintaining existing restrictions.
The lawmakers urged Trump to remain consistent with the policy adopted during his first administration.
"Just as you pushed to first prohibit the sale of F-35s to Turkey in 2019, we urge you to maintain this prohibition today," they wrote.
"Any action otherwise would send the wrong message to President Erdogan and to our allies and partners both in Europe and the Middle East."
With Congress having written the restrictions directly into federal law, any effort to restore Turkey to the F-35 program would likely face significant legal and political challenges, setting up another confrontation between the White House and a bipartisan coalition determined to keep America's most advanced fighter aircraft out of Ankara's hands.