Letter to the editor: A post-Erdogan government could be worse
· The Washington TimesOPINION:
While it is entirely prudent to be deeply concerned about the sale of F-35s to Turkey given Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s extremism, the story does not end there (“Do not sell Turkey the F-35,” Web, July 7).
Our political leaders must ask who might come after Mr. Erdogan — because Turkey appears headed in an even worse direction.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is often mentioned as a possible Erdogan successor. He has repeatedly linked the future of Turkey to Iran.
On Nov. 30, 2025, while in Iran, he touted expanded Turkish cooperation with Iran on energy, trade, border security and regional security matters.
In August 2025, Mr. Fidan said that “Israel’s reckless attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, [and] Iran are the clearest sign of a terrorist-state mentality defying international order.”
Mr. Fidan has long been a vocal supporter of Iran’s ayatollahs. Late last year, he called for an end to sanctions against Iran.
Policymakers in Washington must stop indulging in the fantasy that Turkey is a Western ally.
MOSHE PHILLIPS
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National chairman, Americans For A Safe Israel
New York, New York