The Trump administration is expected to move forward with a proposed $750 million sale of F-110 jet engines to Türkiye despite objections from a senior Democratic lawmaker, according to media reports.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, placed a hold on the sale over Ankara’s continued possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, as well as concerns related to Syria and Greece.
The administration informed Congress that it intends to proceed with the sale of jet engines for Türkiye’s domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, despite the hold placed on the deal, and described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a “great partner in the region.”
"Late yesterday, the administration informed me it would once again bypass congressional review for more than $700 million in defence articles to the Turkish military in yet another deeply troubling example of this administration's open contempt for Congress's oversight authority," Meeks said in a statement.
An administration official defended the move, citing U.S. President Donald Trump's close ties with President Erdoğan.
“The administration always maintains maximum transparency with Congress,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Anadolu.
“In addition to maintaining regular communication with the Hill, (U.S.) Ambassador (to Türkiye Tom) Barrack, Department of War officials and State Department officials have all briefed Congress in person on this topic,” the official added.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he is likely to take a step that would make Türkiye “very happy” when asked about Ankara’s request for F-35 fighter jets and jet engines.
Trump is expected to travel to Ankara for the NATO summit on 7-8 July, where he is set to meet with President Erdoğan.
The U.S. suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 after objecting to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence system, claiming the system would endanger the fighter jets and is inoperable with NATO systems.
Several Turkish defense entities were sanctioned under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Türkiye has said repeatedly that there is no conflict between the two and proposed a commission to study the issue. Türkiye also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that its suspension broke the rules.
Ankara maintains that the fighter jets would strengthen not only Türkiye, but also NATO.
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