U.S. F-16s to Türkiye Would Derail the NATO Alliance, Embolden Russia, and Endanger U.S. Allies

A Middle East Forum campaign last December helped spur Congress to put Türkiye on notice: the U.S. will not tolerate attacks against NATO allies. But there is more work to be done.

Forum advocates such as yourself sent hundreds of letters to members of Congress demanding that a proposed F-16 deal with Türkiye include conditions ensuring the aircraft would not be used to threaten and harass Greek military forces, and other U.S. allies.

Thanks partly to this outreach, Congress released a joint explanatory statement attached to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “We believe that North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies should not conduct unauthorized territorial over-flights of another NATO ally’s airspace.”

Click the “Take Action” button (above or below) to thank members of Congress who supported an amendment to the NDAA that, if passed, would have required the White House to certify that Türkiye would not use American-made F-16s for illegal over-flights of Greek territory.  Members of Congress who voted against this amendment, or those who did not have an opportunity to vote, will receive letters asking them to join their colleagues in demanding limitations to the arms sale.

 

Last year, Türkiye violated Greek airspace more than 11,000 times. Many of these incidents involved older F-16s, and 333 escalated into engagements with the Hellenic Air Force.

Turkish authorities have promised to reject any conditions set on the country’s purchase of American fighter jets. Instead, policy experts warn that Türkiye may reject NATO accession of Sweden and Finland until Congress approves the F-16 deal, a move that would embolden Russia and threaten security in Europe.

Greece isn’t the only U.S. ally affected by Turkish armed aggression. Türkiye has carried out targeted air strikes against Kurdish militias in Northern Syria, home to America’s most consistent ally in the fight against ISIS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to order a full-scale invasion of the region to eradicate the Syrian Democratic Forces.