Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly appealed to President Trump to block the delivery of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, highlighting concerns that such a move would destabilize the balance of power in the Middle East. Netanyahu’s statement came ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aims to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 program despite strong opposition from U.S. lawmakers across the political spectrum.
Netanyahu pinpointed Erdogan’s aggressive stance toward Israel and neighboring NATO countries as a key reason to withhold the jets. He referenced Erdogan’s open calls for Israel’s destruction, his control over part of Cyprus, and ongoing threats against Greece. The prime minister emphasized that maintaining Israeli air superiority—and America's strategic posture in the region—is crucial, warning that transferring F-35s to Turkey could undermine both.
The United States removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system, a move that raised fears Washington might compromise the jet’s sensitive technology. Despite hosting NATO’s second-largest army, Turkey’s relationship with fellow alliance members remains strained over disputes such as longstanding Aegean Sea territorial claims with Greece. Turkey also faced sanctions from the U.S. and European nations after its 2019 military offensive against Kurdish groups in northern Syria.
Turkey’s ties with Russia add complexity to its NATO membership. While Erdogan once condemned and apologized for shooting down a Russian fighter jet violating Turkish airspace, he has also expressed equal trust in Russia and Western nations. Ankara has provided military support to Ukraine and endorsed its NATO ambitions, even as it opposed Finland and Sweden joining the alliance due to their support for Kurdish activists.
Recent rhetoric has further heightened tensions between Turkey and Israel. Erdogan and senior Turkish officials have condemned Israel following its military campaign against Hamas after the October 2023 terror attacks. Netanyahu cited statements from Erdogan’s foreign and interior ministers that questioned Israel’s legitimacy, with calls that Israel should be “wiped out.” The prime minister underscored these hostile declarations to reinforce his argument against supplying Turkey with F-35 jets, which are among the most technologically advanced fighter aircraft in the world and operated extensively by the Israeli air force.