Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly urged President Trump to reconsider allowing Turkey to acquire advanced F-35 fighter jets, warning that such a move could destabilize the balance of power in the Middle East. The F-35 program remains a contentious issue as Turkey seeks to rejoin ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, despite staunch opposition from both sides of the U.S. political spectrum.
Netanyahu highlighted Turkey’s leadership under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he portrayed as a regional threat due to Erdogan’s hostile rhetoric toward Israel and neighboring NATO members. Netanyahu cited Erdogan’s calls for Israel’s destruction, military actions against Cyprus and threats to Greece as reasons why Turkey’s possession of F-35s would undermine Israeli and allied security interests.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing the Russian S-400 missile defense system, raising concerns in Washington about the possibility of Russia exploiting Turkish access to F-35 technology. Although Turkey maintains the second-largest army within NATO and has complex interactions with both Western allies and Russia, its military ambitions and alliances remain under scrutiny.
Relations between Turkey and other NATO members have been strained by territorial disputes, especially with Greece over the Aegean Sea. Turkey’s 2019 military offensive against Kurdish groups in northern Syria drew sanctions from the U.S. and Europe, revealing deep divides within the alliance. Furthermore, Erdogan’s statements about trusting Russia as much as the West, alongside his selective support for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, add layers of tension to Turkey’s positioning within the bloc.
Israel’s air force operates a notable fleet of F-35 jets, which are regarded as among the world’s most advanced multirole fighters, contributing to the country’s strategic air superiority. Netanyahu’s concern centers on maintaining this advantage amid a shifting regional security landscape. The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara will test the alliance’s ability to reconcile Turkey’s ambitions with broader Western security priorities.