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Witnesses and members urge Congress to block advanced arms sales to Turkey, warn of regional risks
Summary
Experts and members at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing urged Congress and the administration to block advanced U.S. engines and F-35 reinstatement for Turkey, citing deployment of F-16s to occupied northern Cyprus, reverse-engineering risks, and ties to regional militant groups.
Witnesses before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and multiple House members urged Congress to block or condition recent U.S. arms sales to Turkey, arguing that Ankara's conduct in occupied northern Cyprus and other actions undermine alliance cohesion and risk U.S. technology transfer.
Michael Rubin, identified in his testimony as director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum, argued that providing advanced engines or reinstating Turkey in the F-35 program while Turkey retains the S-400 air-defense system and positions F-16 fighters in occupied parts of Cyprus would "encourage aggression without consequence" and risks reverse engineering of U.S. technology. "Selling advanced engines is further counterproductive because Turkey is now open about its desire to develop its own aircraft," Rubin said.
A senior fellow who studies Turkish politics warned that returning F-35 capabilities to Turkey or approving $700 million in F-110 engines would transform the regional balance and could allow Ankara to project power unpredictably from occupied bases. "Placing the world's most advanced fighter, our crown jewel, the F-35, in such hands would not strengthen the NATO alliance," the witness said.
Representative Titus said she will introduce a joint resolution of disapproval to block a recent sale of F-110 engines and urged House leadership to prevent moves to readmit Turkey to the F-35 program while it maintains the S-400 and continues basing in occupied territory.
Why it matters: witnesses linked arms transfers to concrete developments described in the hearing: the establishment of a drone base and the recent deployment of U.S.-origin F-16 fighters to northern Cyprus. Commission members said these deployments change facts on the ground and argued that U.S. foreign-policy credibility depends on consistent enforcement of statutory and contractual restrictions tied to end-use and end-user agreements.
Policy levers discussed included preserving sanctions and export-control restrictions imposed after the S-400 purchase, conditioning future transfers on removal of prohibited systems and basing guarantees, tightening visa and financial scrutiny for officials connected to the occupation, and requesting intelligence assessments of suspected weapon transfers through northern Cyprus.
There were no formal votes in the hearing, but members pledged legislative and oversight follow-up. The hearing record will be transmitted to relevant agencies for consideration in pending executive-branch arms-sale decisions.
Representative and witness statements on the record emphasized bipartisan oversight and potential legislative remedies rather than immediate executive action taken during the session.
