AHI Urges President Trump to Stand by His Administration’s CAATSA Sanctions on Türkiye

No. 47

WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump expressing deep concern over the Administration’s formal notification to Congress of the proposed sale of more than $700 million in GE F110 engines to Türkiye for its KAAN fighter aircraft while also reviewing a pathway for Türkiye to obtain F-35 aircraft.

In the letter, Larigakis reminded President Trump that it was his administration that “rightfully imposed sanctions” under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) on Türkiye’s defense procurement agency after determining that Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system posed an unacceptable threat to U.S. national security and NATO interoperability.

“Your Administration reached the correct conclusion in 2020, and we respectfully urge you to stand by it,” Larigakis wrote. “Nothing has changed since that determination. Türkiye continues to possess the Russian S-400 system, and the legal and national security concerns that prompted those sanctions remain unresolved.”

AHI also raised concern that, although the Administration has formally notified Congress of the proposed defense article sale, reports indicate it has chosen to proceed over the objections of congressional leaders and without adhering to the longstanding congressional consultation process that has traditionally governed major arms sales.

Larigakis urged the Administration to reverse its current policy direction toward Türkiye, uphold the rule of law, respect Congress’s constitutional oversight role, halt the proposed defense article sale, and ensure Türkiye is not permitted to obtain F-35 aircraft unless and until it fully satisfies the legal and national security conditions established under U.S. law.

• Read the letter here