US Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declared that the committee would block any prospective sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. Speaking at a Greek diaspora event in New York on Saturday, March 29, 2025, Meeks stated, “I can assure you that the F-35s will not be delivered to Turkey. We will ensure that Greece maintains its strategic edge.”
He emphasized the common principles uniting the US and Greece, saying, “It’s our shared commitment to liberty, freedom, equity, and democracy that binds us together.”
Turkey has been pushing to lift US sanctions and re-enter the F-35 program, a collaborative effort with NATO allies it was excluded from in 2019. Meeks’ remarks signal continued resistance to Turkey’s ambitions regarding the advanced fighter jets.