In a strongly worded letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Republican Representative Mike Lawler and Democratic Representative Brad Sherman have called for a halt to any potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. The lawmakers emphasized that such a deal would undermine U.S. strategic interests and compromise regional security. Their appeal underscores a rare bipartisan consensus on the risks of arming Ankara amid its shifting foreign policy stance and recent military actions.
The letter, dated July 3, 2026, argues that the team’s acquisition of the advanced stealth aircraft could destabilize NATO dynamics and embolden actions that conflict with Western alliances. Lawler and Sherman pointed to Turkey’s past procurement of Russian S-400 missile systems, which led to its removal from the F-35 program in 2019, as a precedent for caution. They urged the administration to prioritize long-term security over short-term diplomatic gains.
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The bipartisan effort reflects broader unease in Congress about Turkey’s role in the Middle East and its relationship with both NATO and non-Western powers. As debates over military aid and arms sales intensify, the letter serves as a clear signal to the White House that lawmakers are prepared to push back against decisions they view as counterproductive to U.S. interests.