The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has sent a letter directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing strong opposition to the proposed sale of American F110 engines to Turkey, as well as to any process that could open the door for Ankara to acquire F-35 fighter jets.
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In the letter, addressed personally to the American president, AHI President Nick Larigakis expresses “deep concern” over the administration’s formal notification to Congress regarding the proposed sale of GE F110 engines — valued at over $700 million — for Turkey’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet. The letter also raises concerns about reports that the U.S. government is exploring a potential legal pathway that would allow Turkey to acquire F-35 fighter aircraft.
The Institute recalls that it was Trump’s own first administration that imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey’s Defense Industries Presidency due to Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. As the letter notes, that decision was based on the finding that Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 posed an unacceptable threat to U.S. national security and NATO interoperability.
AHI calls on Trump to remain consistent
The AHI urges President Trump to remain consistent with that earlier decision, stressing that nothing of substance has changed since. Turkey, the letter notes, continues to possess the Russian S-400 system, and the legal issues that led to the sanctions remain unresolved. For this reason, the Institute calls on the U.S. government to refrain from pursuing policies that could undermine either the sanctions themselves or the legal framework upon which they were based.
Particular emphasis is placed on the role of Congress. The AHI expresses concern that the administration chose to move forward with the formal sale notification despite objections from members of Congress and without fully adhering to the established consultation process that traditionally governs major arms sales. The letter stresses that Congress’s constitutional oversight role in U.S. foreign policy and national security matters is an essential institutional safeguard that must be fully respected.
The AHI also offers a broader critique of Turkey’s conduct, arguing that Ankara does not function as a reliable NATO ally. The letter references Turkey’s ongoing occupation of the Republic of Cyprus, violations of Greek sovereignty in the Aegean, Turkey’s relations with Russia, its posture in the Middle East, and its ties to actors such as Hamas. The letter further points to violations of international law and issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
According to the AHI, rewarding such behavior with expanded defense cooperation sends the wrong message to both allies and adversaries of the United States. The Institute underscores that the U.S. has long benefited from its strategic relationships with Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, and other democratic allies in the Eastern Mediterranean — partners that, as the letter notes, are committed to peace and stability in the region.
In closing, the AHI calls on the Trump administration to reconsider its policy toward Turkey, respect the role of Congress, halt the proposed F110 engine sale, and ensure that Turkey does not acquire F-35 fighter jets unless and until it fully satisfies the conditions required under U.S. law.
