The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) has called on President Donald Trump to uphold CAATSA sanctions against Turkey and prevent its reintegration into the F-35 fighter jet program.
In a letter addressed to Trump, AHI, the Greek American public policy center and think tank, strongly opposed any move to allow Ankara back into the program, even if Turkey were to abandon its Russian-made S-400 missile defense system—whose acquisition led to U.S. sanctions in the first place.
The letter gains significance as Turkey seeks to re-engage with Trump in an effort to regain access to the F-35 program. This issue was reportedly raised by Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, during his first official visit to the United States since Donald Trump assumed the presidency, where he met with Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio.
Following a recent phone conversation between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Fox News reported that the U.S. administration was considering a compromise regarding the S-400 issue. Speculation suggests potential solutions such as partially dismantling the system or relocating it to a U.S. military base within Turkey.
However, AHI frames the F-35 issue within a broader geopolitical context, emphasizing what it describes as Turkey’s destabilizing and anti-alliance actions, which it argues undermine U.S. interests.
“Turkey should remove the S-400 system not as a bargaining chip with the United States, but because it is its obligation to both the U.S. and NATO,” the AHI letter asserts. “The U.S. cannot reward Turkey for addressing a problem of its own making.”
