Rep. Gottheimer Leads Push for Turkey Arms Pause in National Defense Authorize Act
U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
WASHINGTON - On August 28, 2025, U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) submitted an amendment for the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that would pause the sale and service of U.S. arms to Turkey until the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, submits a report to Congress which includes an assessment of the security risks Turkey’s actions pose to the United States. This action to hold Turkey accountable for their actions follows sustained advocacy from the American Hellenic Institute and collaboration with the office of Rep. Gottheimer to address this issue.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) co-led the amendment, which has received the support of FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) and HALC (Hellenic American Leadership Council).
The report will specifically assess the following:
Steps taken to ensure that Turkey is no longer engaged in repeated violations or threats of violations of the sovereign territory of another member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, major non-NATO allies, or the Republic of Cyprus, including by providing political, logistical, or financial support to a United States-designated terrorist organization.
Steps taken to prevent Turkey from purchasing defense systems from United States foreign adversaries in direct violation of United States law.
Steps taken to prevent the use of United States arms to facilitate the occupation of the Republic of Cyprus and the status of weapons previously transferred to the Government of Turkey or armed forces of Turkey which are now located in Cyprus.
A detailed description of any attacks on United States servicemembers or their families and efforts by the Government of Turkey to prevent future attacks.
AHI Legislative Director Alexander Christofor stated "We commend Rep. Gotthiemer for bringing attention to Turkey's repeated threats to the security of the United States and its allies. It’s been demonstrated many times that Turkey has engaged in actions that destabilize the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey must be held accountable for its reported relationships with terrorist organizations, its procurement of weapons from adversaries of the United States, and its misuse of U.S. arms for purposes other than legitimate self defense.”
Christofor emphasized that “Attacks on U.S. servicemembers in Turkey must immediately be addressed to ensure the safety of our armed forces when they are abroad. It is unacceptable for any country to allow such repeated anti-American acts of violence to occur. Turkey must take more proactive steps to ensure our servicemembers are no longer endangered by these assaults.
To read the amendment, click here.
For more information regarding this legislation or other AHI policy matters, contact:
Alexander Christofor, Legislative Director of the American Hellenic Institute | christofor@americanhellenicinstitute.org
The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) is a non-profit policy center and think tank founded in 1974 that promotes the interests of the United States in foreign affairs involving Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Southern Europe.
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