The American Hellenic Institute sent a formal letter to President Trump this week urging him to block a proposed $700 mi...

The American Hellenic Institute sent a formal letter to President Trump this week urging him to block a proposed $700 million sale of GE Aerospace F110 engines to Turkey and shut down any pathway that could lead to Ankara acquiring F-35 fighter jets. AHI President Nick Larigakis reminded Trump that his own administration imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey's defense procurement agency in 2020 after Ankara bought Russia's S-400 air defense system. Larigakis argued the decision was correct then and nothing has changed since. Turkey still possesses the S-400, and the legal and national security concerns that triggered the sanctions remain unresolved. The letter also raises concerns about how the proposed sale was handled in Washington. Larigakis argued the administration formally notified Congress but moved forward despite objections from congressional leaders and without following the established consultation process that has long governed major U.S. arms sales. Beyond the procedural concerns, AHI laid out a broader case against deepening defense ties with Ankara. The letter cites Turkey's ongoing occupation of northern Cyprus, repeated violations of Greek sovereignty in the Aegean, its defense cooperation with Russia, its ties to Hamas, and what the organization calls persistent violations of both international and U.S. law, including the continued persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Larigakis argued that rewarding this conduct with expanded military cooperation would send the wrong signal to both allies and adversaries of the United States. He urged Trump to instead deepen strategic partnerships with Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, and other democratic allies in the Eastern Mediterranean. The AHI was founded in 1974 and focuses on U.S. foreign policy interests in Greece, Cyprus, and the broader Eastern Mediterranean region. #Greece #Turkey #EasternMediterranean