Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly urged President Donald Trump on Monday to withhold advanced F-35 fighter jets from Turkey, asserting that the delivery would “upset the power balance” in the Middle East. The plea comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly seeks to re-enter the F-35 program ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
Netanyahu stated in an interview that while Turkey is a significant nation, its leadership under Erdogan has made statements advocating for the destruction of Israel and has engaged in actions that threaten NATO allies Greece and Cyprus. He argued that providing F-35s or their components to Turkey would jeopardize the air superiority that underpins regional stability, a balance maintained by Israel and the United States.
The F-35 is considered a premier fighter jet globally, with Israel operating a substantial fleet. Turkey was previously removed from the F-35 program in 2019 following its acquisition of Russia's S-400 missile system, which U.S. officials feared could compromise the jet's stealth capabilities. Despite this, Turkey possesses the second-largest military within NATO after the U.S. and has experienced friction with other alliance members, particularly Greece, over territorial disputes.
Turkey's relationship with Russia has been complex, marked by incidents such as the downing of a Russian jet in 2015 and subsequent apologies. More recently, in 2023, Erdogan expressed trust in Russia comparable to his trust in the West, though Turkey has also supplied military aid to Ukraine and supported its NATO aspirations. This comes amid strained relations between Turkey and Israel, particularly since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, with Turkish officials making strong anti-Israel remarks.
Netanyahu also characterized Turkey as being influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization he described as antagonistic towards the United States. President Trump has previously spoken favorably of Erdogan, referring to him as an "extraordinary leader" and a "good friend."