1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge strong congressional oversight of any effort to lift sanctions on Turkey or restore Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program. Turkey is an important NATO ally, but its purchase and possession of the Russian S-400 air-defense system created the very security concern that led to its removal from the F-35 program. U.S. defense officials have warned that the F-35 and S-400 cannot safely coexist, because the Russian system could compromise sensitive stealth and operating data. Congress should not allow Turkey back into the program unless the S-400 issue is fully and verifiably resolved. At a minimum, that should mean removal, dismantlement, or transfer of the system in a way that prevents Russian access and eliminates the intelligence risk to the F-35. I am also concerned that waiving sanctions without a clear resolution would weaken U.S. law, undermine CAATSA enforcement, and send the message that a NATO ally can purchase advanced Russian military equipment and later face no lasting consequences. That would damage U.S. credibility and could encourage similar behavior by other partners. There are also broader regional security concerns. Turkey’s relationship with Russia, its conduct in Syria, tensions with Greece and Cyprus, and increasingly hostile posture toward Israel all raise legitimate questions about whether restoring F-35 access is wise at this time. I ask that you oppose any restoration of Turkey’s F-35 participation unless Congress receives clear evidence that Turkey has permanently eliminated the S-400 threat and that such a decision is consistent with U.S. law, NATO security, and the protection of American defense technology. This should not be treated as a unilateral executive decision. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that U.S. military technology is protected and that sanctions law is not weakened for political convenience