Turkish American organizations urge U.S. Congress to support F-35 sales to Turkey

A coalition of Turkish American civil society organizations has submitted a joint letter to more than 50 members of the U.S. Congress, urging support for the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.

The participating groups include the Turkish American Assembly (ATAA), Turkish American Coalition (TCA), Turkish American Federation of Associations (TADF), Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), MÜSİAD USA, Southern Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (TACCS), and ASKON USA.

In the letter, the organizations emphasized that defense cooperation between Turkey and the U.S. serves the interests of both nations and is vital for regional and global security. They requested the removal of “unnecessary sanctions and obstacles” hindering the F-35 sales, arguing that such a move would be an investment in NATO's integrity and regional stability. The coalition also noted that Turkey's growing defense industry supports U.S. goals for Europe to take more responsibility for its own security, and highlighted Turkey's role as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine war and a stabilizer in Syria.